Hull Adds Stawell Silver to Season’s Haul

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Jessica Hull continued with her season’s sensational form by finishing the 1000m race at the prestigious Stawell Gift on Easter Monday with a silver medal.

Under the race’s handicap system Hull, fellow Olympian Linden Hall, and Commonwealth Games representative Abbey Caldwell gifted the rest of the field a 20-metre head start.

Hull kept a good pace throughout the race before seeming to assert her dominance in the second lap. By the final turn, the Tokyo Olympian from Albion Park, appeared to be locked in a duel with Hall for the gold medal.

However, 17-year-old Claudia Hollingsworth – who’ll celebrate her 18^th birthday tomorrow – shocked the large crowd of spectators by challenging the two more experienced competitors for the lead.

After coming around the final turn in second last place, the teenager stormed home to seize the race – and a breathtaking victory – from Hull.

“It was a nice way to wrap up the Australian (domestic) season,” Hull told the Illawarra Mercury.

“Claudia ran so well. Looking at the handicaps early, I thought Claudia would be the dangerous one. I knew she was in good shape and thought she would have a great run down here.

“It’s always fun to see a young one coming through.”

Regardless, the podium finish continued an incredible season for 26-year-old Hull who:

• Claimed a bronze medals as a member of Australia’s mixed 4x2km relay team at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst
• Created history at last month’s Sydney Track Classic after smashing the Australian 3000m record by almost five seconds
• Secured her berth for World Athletics Championships in Budapest this August after her dominant performance at the Australian Track and Field Championships.

Hull will spend the next three weeks at home before leaving to compete in the Doha Diamond League on May 5. She’ll be in regular competition leading into the Budapest world championships.

Daniel Lane, NSWIS