Olli Hoare a Bronzed Aussie in Morocco

New South Wales Institute of Sport’s Olli Hoare and fellow Olympic track star Catriona Bisset have charged to podium finishes in company of some of the sport’s biggest names at the Rabat Diamond League in Morocco.

Returning to the track after a dominant summer down under, reigning Commonwealth champion and global medallist, Hoare, wasted no time in making his mark on the 2023 Diamond League scene, finishing in third place of the world-class 1500m field.

The 26-year-old could only be outpaced in the home straight by reigning Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) and training partner Yared Nuguse (USA), laying down his fifth fastest time over the distance of 3:33.39 to recommence his outdoor campaign.

“The race didn’t go as quick as I expected it to go and it became more tactical. I wanted to stick on Jakob and outkick him at the end, but I wasn’t able to do it. I just didn’t have the legs in the last 100m, but I was very close to him, and I was competitive,” Hoare said.

“If third place at a Diamond League is a bit of a disappointment, it’s a good place to be. I’m looking forward to progressing from this race and building up to Oslo Diamond League in a couple of weeks. I just want to be competitive at the top end of the field. The one goal for this year is go through to Worlds and qualify for the final and come out with a medal or win.”

Also impressing over the metric mile, Olympic finalist Linden Hall raced to a season’s best time of 4:03.56 to finish in sixth place. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay took out the race in 3:54.03 as the East African nation posted the top four women across the line, while Hall raced prominently in the second pack with Cory McGee (USA) to finish in the top half of the field.

Racing to the second Diamond League podium of her career, Australian record holder Bisset was valiant when taking up the challenge set by Kenya’s Mary Moraa, rewarded with her highest finish on the esteemed circuit – second place in 2:00.11.

Latching onto the back of the 2022 World Championships bronze medallist and reigning Commonwealth champion, the Australian embraced the 56-second opening lap as Moraa won in 1:58.72 – Bisset clinging onto silver ahead of her fast-finishing rivals headed by Sage Hurta-Klecker (USA) in 2:00.62.

“The goal was definitely to get myself in a good position in the first lap. I knew it was going to be fast because Moraa loves to front-run really quick. Learning from previous years as well, Diamond League racing can come to the first few hundred metres and the last. I knew if I could nail my race plan, then landing on the podium was very must possible,” Bisset said.

“A lot of that race was me focussing on technique and not letting myself fall to pieces, which is something I’ve been working on in training with (coach) Ned (Brophy-Williams). For me that still getting something out of myself at the end of the race instead of over-striding and falling apart.

“Everything is falling into place now. Last year, I made so many big changes to every part of my training and sometimes it takes a little while to see the fruits of your labour. I’ve got PBs in training and PBs in the gym and now it’s about applying all of that strength, so I’m excited for what’s to come.”

The Diamond League makes its next stop in Florence, Italy later this week, with the Rome meeting to be held on June 2 set to feature an Australian contingent which includes NSWIS athletes Rohan Browning (100m) and Jessica Hull (1500m). Hull will be joined in her event by fellow Aussies Abbey Caldwell and Linden Hall, while Nina Kennedy will contest the Women’s Pole Vault and Stewart McSweyn the men’s 5000m.

Story courtesy of Athletics Australia