The rising middle-distance star Claudia Hollingsworth has smashed the Australian 800m record in a clear statement of intent a month out from the world athletics championships in Tokyo.
The 20-year-old Victorian stopped the clock at 1min 57.67sec in a red-hot women’s 800m won by Britain’s Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson at the Diamond League meet in Silesia.
High jumper Nicola Olyslagers and pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall recorded podium finishes, but the standout performance came from Hollingsworth, who consigned Catriona Bisset’s previous Australian mark of 1min 57.78sec to history.
“It’s pretty sick,” said an elated Hollingsworth.
“To come down the home straight and not be sure but to look up at the big screen and see it was really exciting.
“To share it with Abbey (Caldwell) and Catriona was so special, having three Aussies in a race like this is awesome.
“I got into this mentality that they are quick races now and if you want it to be quick, you have to be in it to win it.
“I’m trying to be more aggressive and try different ways of racing leading into Tokyo because those heats are going to be quick leading into the semis and hopefully the final.”
Caldwell was just behind the fifth-placed Hollingsworth in 1min 57.70sec – also quicker than Bisset’s previous record.
The pair have been pre-selected to run the two-lap event at the world titles, with one vacancy still up for grabs.
Two-time Olympic high jump silver medallist Olyslagers made a strong return to competition after a six-week layoff, finishing second with a best clearance of 1.97m behind only reigning Olympic and world champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh (2m).
Nicola Olyslagers competes in the women’s high jump at the Silesia Diamond League meet. Photograph: Maja Hitij/Getty Images
Marschall – the pole vault bronze medallist at the 2023 world titles in Budapest – finished in a tie for third at 5.90m as he continues to flirt with the elusive 6m barrier.
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The peerless world record-holder Armand Duplantis from Sweden won the event with 6.10m ahead of Greece’s Emmanouil Karalis, with Marschall and Dutchman Menno Vloon tying for third.
“I had a bit of a tummy issue in the last couple of days, so to come away with a 5.90 on a scrappy day, I’m very happy,” Marschall said.
Paris Olympics 1500m silver medallist Jessica Hull took on the unusual role of pacemaker for her rival and friend Faith Kipyegon, who was attempting to break the longstanding 3000m world record.
The Kenyan went agonisingly close before being forced to settle for the second-fastest time in history of 8min 7.04sec in a race she won by almost half a minute.
The world record of 8min 6.11sec set by China’s Wang Junxia dates way back to 1993.
Rose Davies was the first Australian across the line in fourth spot in 8mind 36.53sec.
In other Australian action in Silesia, Linden Hall was sixth in the women’s 1500m and Cam Myers and 2022 Commonwealth champion Olli Hoare were sixth and eighth respectively in the men’s 1500m.
