Hilliard: Jenneke needs to focus on aths

Australian head coach Craig Hilliard says high-profile hurdler Michelle Jenneke needs to make athletics her undisputed No.1 priority.

Jenneke bombed out in the opening round of the 100m hurdles in Rio in a time of 13.26 - almost half a second slower than the PB set last year which moved the 23-year-old to second spot on the Australian alltime list behind Sally Pearson.

"At the moment, I am still young, I live at home, go to university. At the moment, athletics isn't my only priority," she said.

Hilliard will demand a more hard and fast commitment.

"Absolutely (it troubles me), because it comes to the end of the day and ... it's about balance. If it's not a priority then why are we funding athletes if it's not a priority?" he said on Saturday.

"It's simple.

"If you are going to be half-baked at doing something, why are we investing in you? I can't justify that."

Despite her modest international results, Jenneke was the most visible member of the 60-strong Australian athletics team at the Rio Games, due largely to a lucrative commercial deal with Coca-Cola and her celebrated pre-race dance routine.

Hilliard also felt Jenneke arrived at the pre-Games training camp in Florida below peak fitness.

"She was certainly one of the athletes that under-performed here," he said.

"It would be easy to suggest that (outside distractions) was possibly a scenario.

"It's something that I need to discuss with her and go through with her.

"... she certainly didn't arrive here in the shape she should have arrived in."