Jessica Hull, Rose Davies break Aussie records in London; Late-race drama cruels Cameron Myers
Jessica Hull and Rose Davies lowered their own Australian records in the women's mile and 5000 metres respectively at the London Diamond League meet on Sunday (AEST), producing phenomenal runs less than two months out from the Tokyo world championships.
Georgia Griffith also broke what was the Australian 5000-metre record, the 14:40.83 set by Davies earlier in the European season, but Davies finished higher in the field to ensure she kept the record, which is now 14:31.45.
While Hull and Davies broke records and finished on the podium at London Stadium, Australian teen prodigy Cameron Myers was putting together another terrific race in the men's 1500 metres when disaster struck.
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Sitting fourth with about 200 metres to go, Myers seemingly clipped the heels of Great Britain's George Mills. Both hit the deck, as did Germany's Robert Farken. The three of them picked themselves up, licked their wounds and jogged the rest of the way.
"Moved up nicely but got tangled up and hit the deck," Myers posted on Instagram.
"Happy to come out of it unscathed."
The Canberra product had made an impressive move through the field with 500 metres to go, and was only a few paces off the leaders, 18-year-old Kenyan sensation Phanuel Koech and reigning 1500m world champion Josh Kerr, when he went down.
Koech kicked away on the home straight to win in 3:28.82, the fastest time ever run in the UK, as Great Britain's Kerr (3:29.27) and Portugal's Isaac Nader (3:31.55) rounded out the podium.
In a rapid women's mile in which Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay shot away from the pacemaker early, Tsegay and Hull took out the top two spots and shook up the all-time rankings.
Gudaf Tsegay (left) and Jessica Hull after the women's mile. Getty
As Tsegay took victory in 4:11.88 to become the second-fastest woman in history, Hull trailed home in 4:13.68 to climb into sixth on the all-time list.
In another record-breaking run, Hull bettered the 4:15.34 she had set at the Monaco Diamond League meet almost two years ago to the day.
Hull admitted the mile race was "very strange", noting it "went by very fast".
"I had lots of distractions but I was just trying to zone into the leader in the second half," Hull said.
"Coming in, I think we were thinking I could run a national record, and I did. I would have liked it to be a little closer to 4:10, but I felt very strong.
How the all-time women's mile rankings look after the London Diamond League meet. World Athletics
"Running my own race within a race was the biggest thing today.
"A lot of records fell so it was pretty special to be part of that race."
In the women's 5000m, Davies (14:31.45) and Griffith (14:32.82) both obliterated the national record en route to finishing third and fifth respectively.
Davies was boxed in and sitting fifth at the bell, trailing three Ethiopians and a Japanese runner.
After finding some breathing space as the field stretched out over the final lap, the two-time Olympian moved into fourth on the back straight, then third on the home straight.
Two nationalities made up the top six places: Ethiopia and Australia.
Rose Davies tucked in behind three Ethiopians during the women's 5000 metres. Getty
"I was ready for a big race and I felt like I responded to the challenge today," Davies said.
"My expectations were a PB [personal best] and I have achieved that, so I am really pleased."
Australia's Eleanor Patterson collected another podium finish in the women's high jump, clearing 1.93 metres to take second.
Australia's best track and field athletes are zeroing in on the Tokyo world championships, taking place from September 13-21.
