On the eve of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Australia’s track and field stars have lit up the London Diamond League with wins to several New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders such as middle-distance icon Jessica Hull and high jumper Nicola Olyslagers, who both led a historic afternoon at London Stadium.

Hull (NSW, Simon Hull) was a triumphant winner in the Women’s 3000m in 8:24.69, beating fellow NSWIS athlete Rose Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott) in 8:25.38 as Australia dominated the podium.

The winning move came over the final lap where Hull found another gear ahead of her Glasgow campaign, where she will attempt to become the first Australian woman in history to win the 1500m / Mile at the Commonwealth Games.  

“You’ve got to cherish these wins and I’m pretty proud of that one,” Hull said.

“With 500m to go, Rose [Davies] moved up on the outside and I knew that she was likely to be the one to beat today. I just adjusted the plan, was patient at the front and then was really happy with how I was able to kick away.

“I just turned the energy all week to forget about being the one to chase the times and just try to win. When you just focus on racing the race, you can do things like that.”

As Hull fell just short of the national record which stands at 8:24.20, fellow Australians Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams) and Georgia Griffith (VIC, Nic Bideau) clinched sixth and seventh placings in times of 8:27.16 and 8:27.94 respectively.

Nicola Olyslagers (NSW, Matt Horsnell) made it two Australian wins for the afternoon when soaring over 2.01m to defeat world record holder and Olympic champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR), clearing the elusive two-metre marker for the first time in 2026.

Olyslagers achieved the height with a clutch final attempt, taking the win on countback as NSWIS teammate Eleanor Patterson (NSW, Fayaaz Caan) secured third place with 1.96m.

“I’m feeling really good and really strong and it normally takes me a few comps to be in my best form,” Olyslagers said.

“We’ve planned it all to be in the best possible form for the Commonwealth Games and hopefully we’ll see some really high bars there.

“We just need to get to Glasgow healthy and I know my coach would wrap me in bubble wrap if he could. But we are ready!”

White-hot pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall (WA, Declan Carruthers) also landed on the podium with a 5.95m performance, only separated from the win on countback behind Sam Kendricks (USA) and Armand Duplantis (SWE).

Marschall raised the bar for three attempts at 6.04m as he closes in on a lifelong goal.

“I was pretty happy with how I jumped. I was peppering 6.04m and jumped six-metres last week, and I feel like I’m in the shape of my life,” Marschall said.

“I’m really gunning for that 6.07m Australian record as well at some point, hopefully it’s coming soon. I’m in great shape and looking forward to Commonwealth Games.”

Olympic finalist Peter Bol (WA, Justin Rinaldi) served up the second fastest time of his career when finishing in sixth place of a star-studded Men’s 800m, holding his form after a hot early pace to complete the circuit in 1:43.60, while Sarah Billings (VIC, Nic Bideau) finished in fourth place of the Women’s 800m in 1:58.16.

Australia’s sprinters applied to finishing touches to their Commonwealth Games preparations with a pair of second place finishes over 4x100m, led by the women’s quartet of Ebony Lane (QLD, Christopher Dale), Torrie Lewis (QLD, Laurent Meuwly), Monique Hanlon (QLD, Luke Donatini) and Georgia Harris (QLD, Paul Pearce).

The team stopped the clock in 43.08 to finish behind Great Britain in 42.07, while the men’s lineup of Lachlan Kennedy (QLD, Andrew Iselin), Joshua Azzopardi (NSWIS, Rob Marks), Calab Law (QLD, Andrew Islein) and Rohan Browning (NSWIS, Jack Edwards) ran 38.00-seconds in a close finish with Great Brittain in 37.95.

The Para-athletics action was led by Sam Carter (ACT, Fred Periac, T54) who could only be topped by wheelchair racing legend Marcel Hug, with Carter leading home teammate Samuel Rizzo (VIC, Fred Periac, T54) in 2:59.61 and 3:00.20 respectively.

Earlier in the day, Rhiannon Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan, T38) delivered a time of 13.04 (+0.7) for an improved showing in the Women’s 100m Ambulant.

Full results can be found HERE.

Tags Eleanor PattersonJess HullJosh AzzopardiRohan BrowningROSE DAVIES
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