Australia’s middle distance stocks make history

Australia delivered a commanding display of middle-distance strength on Day Six of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, with a cast of stars advancing to the Women’s 800m semi-finals and two qualifying for the Women’s 5000m final – a first in the nation’s history.

National record holder Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC) made qualification look easy in Heat 6 of the Women’s 800m, crossing the line third in 1:59.06. Leading at the 200m mark, the World Under 20 silver medallist set the pace and held strong until the final 200m when Olympic medallist Georgia Hunter Bell (GBR, 1:58.82) and Gabija Galvydyte (LTU, 1:58.86) took charge to grab onto the first two qualification spots on offer.

“My plan wasn’t to lead from the front, but it was just to be confident and relaxed wherever I landed. I knew it was a possibility, so when I was there, I stayed relaxed as possible and knew I just had to get the job done from there,” Hollingsworth said.

“I’m really glad I nailed that today. I was really focusing on that first 200m and then just to hang on was really important. I just have to work on that turnover on that extra gear and potentially just going a bit earlier.”

Qualification included a nervous wait for Abbey Caldwell (VIC), who was inched out for fourth place in her heat in 1:58.71, recording the fastest time of the non-automatic qualifiers after her heat. With three more heats to go, the Commonwealth medallist was forced to wait but took a sigh of relief when squeezing her way into the semi-finals as the second fastest non-automatic qualifier.

For New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder, Jessica Hull, her path to the semi-finals came with a gash on the leg and a protest after taking a fall to the track in her heat. Only 200m into her race, the four-time global medallist was clipped on the ankle which sent her tumbling.

Full of adrenaline, she pulled herself up to finish the race last and after an appeal was lodged, Hull was advanced to the semi final.

“That was a good introduction to running 800s with the best in the world. I’m disappointed because I was out there and I was out the front, which was phenomenal for me to get out like that. I’ll hopefully get another chance, but I know I’m in shape to do a PB,” Hull said prior to the news of the success of her appeal.

In the 5000m, Rose Davies (NSWIS) and Linden Hall (VIC) ran superbly in the second of the heats to secure the top eight required to qualify for the final. Davies was third with a time of 14:53.83 and Hall was 7th in 14:57.80. In the first heat, Georgia Griffith (VIC) found the conditions and big change of pace with four laps to go too hot to handle.

She finished in 17th place in 15:33.15, unable to finish the long season with the confidence she had delivered throughout the year. Davies, who made her senior debut in this stadium at the Tokyo Olympics, looked in total control throughout.

Hall bounced back from just missing the 1500m final. She made a decisive move with 400m to go to ensure she was well-positioned in the top 8. At times there was a lot of jostling and all athletes did well to stay on their feet.

“I just wanted to make the final and stay on my feet and out of trouble. Tactically, I wanted to do what I’ve been doing all season and race to win,” Davies said. “It was a really big pack and the Japanese girl went out so fast and I just hoped that we would catch her. When it came down to the final laps I sprinted hard as I knew we had time to recover for the final.”

Hall was very determined after just missing a spot in the 1500m final.

“It massively feels like redemption for me. I was mentally a bit mad and fired up. With 300 metres to go I was running next to Faith and thought ‘oh no here we go again’ but I moved wide and it worked out well ,” Hall said.

“My legs were much fresher for the first round of the 1500 than they were for tonight, but it worked out well. We’ll hit the recovery pretty hard for the next 48 hours.”

Both Aussie girls are hoping for a sit-and-kick race in the final on Saturday night. In the highly anticipated 200m

Semi-Finals, Gout Gout (QLD) and Torrie Lewis (QLD) showed the world that these young Australians are knocking on the door of reaching global finals. Lewis showed her quality again placing a close fourth in 22.69 seconds, to finish the Championships ranked 12th in the world.

The time was slightly slower than her personal best in the heat (22.56) but this was her fourth race in six days, and she showed she can keep delivering during the rounds, after setting a new Australian Record in the 100m back on Saturday.

“I was a bit tired tonight and wasn’t able to finish that last 50 like I wanted. But I’m happy with the Championships after running two personal bests this week,” Lewis said. “I didn’t really have anything to lose tonight and I gave it everything. I felt like my bend was faster tonight and I fought well to the line. But I need to get stronger so I can hold my speed for longer and reach the level for making the final.”

Gout at only 17 and the youngest in the field, was fourth in his Semi-Final in 20.36 seconds. It was slightly slower than his heat time and outside his Australian Record of 20.02 seconds. It took 19.98 seconds to secure the last lane in the final. Gout has shown that he belongs on the big stage.

He finished the Championships ranked 18th in the world and will now head home for a short school holiday break before returning to studying for his final year of school. Tokyo has provided valuable experience that will set him up well for the World U20 Championships and Commonwealth Games next year, and the 2027 World Championships.

“I’ve taken away so much from this Championships. How to handle pressure, how to handle the call rooms and all of that, just all the things you wouldn’t really expect about the World Championships is what I’m going to take away for sure,” Gout said.

“I’m just a kid right now but knowing that I can still compete as a kid and get to this point is exciting. The thing I have on them all is I’ve got time. They may not have 15 years, but I have. I know I can keep running and I know that if I can do this at 17, I’ll be even better at 25.”

Cameron McEntyre (NSWIS) placed 12th in the Men’s Javelin final, with a best throw of 75.65. Placing in the bottom two after the first three throws, McEntyre was eliminated in Round 4 but said he had exceeded his expectations for the Tokyo championships, content with a personal best and a breakthrough to his maiden global final.

“I’m a little bit disappointed with how I performed, but I gave it a red-hot crack and an amazing experience though to be out there with the big dogs,” McEntyre said.

“Unfortunately, I just didn’t have the same zing as I did yesterday and not much gas in the tank with the short turnaround. But it’s definitely a confidence boost knowing I can put myself out there with the best in the world. I learnt a lot and a lot to build on, but I know I can come into next season and the next few years to start being a contender in the big finals.”

Australia’s high jump campaign got underway tonight as two Olympic medallists in Nicola Olyslagers (NSWIS) and Eleanor Patterson (NSWIS) and debutant Emily Whelan (NSWIS) took on a field of 35 athletes for a shot at the top-12.

Both world number one, Olyslagers and 2022 world champion Patterson only required two jumps to pave their path to the final, with both clearing 1.88m and 1.92m on their first attempts, placing them into qualification without needing to break further sweat.

Whelan cleared entered competition at the opening height of 1.83m, and advanced over two heights with a clutch third attempt at 1.88m but came unstuck when attempting a new personal best of 1.92m.

Ten Australians will continue the country’s quest on Day Seven, with competition commencing at 6.30pm AEST. Australian viewers can watch live and free on SBS and the Nine Network.

Australian Athletics