Hull and Starc strengthen Australia’s campaign in Budapest

A pair of top-eight finishes from Olympic finalists and NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holders Jessica Hull and Brandon Starc headlined the action on Day Four of the 2023 World Athletics Championships, while a trio of Australians booked semi-finals berths with the championships nearing their halfway mark.

Six-time Australian record holder Jessica Hull (NSW) raced to seventh place in the Women’s 1500m World Championship bout for the second consecutive year, with the ever-consistent Australian clocking 3:59.54 as the race was won by Kenyan world record holder Faith Kipyegon (3:54.87).

The see-sawing affair witnessed Kipyegon dictate a slower pace before amping it up at the bell, with Hull fighting over the final lap to secure the result she had earned over three rounds.

“It’s the same result as a year ago, but I am a different athlete and I am proud of it,” Hull said.

Delivering the sixth sub-four minute reading of her career over the distance, and second in as many days, Hull was quick to draw positives from the experience as she looks ahead to the Paris Olympic Games of 2024.

“I never thought 48 hours apart I could break four minutes twice. The last 12 months, I have literally thought about that final in Eugene (2022 World Championships) and it’s been in my head every training session. I have to go out in 58 seconds this year, and I have to be able to do it and hang on,” Hull said.

“After the Semi-Final, we recognised that it is 12 months away. If we look at the landscape of the event, with Faith (Kipyegon), Sifan (Hassan) and Laura (Muir), they are 29 or 30 and I’m 26. I think we are starting to see peaks a bit later in this event, so we said let’s pivot and be mature, and race where we are at right now as a 26-year-old. I know that this next Olympic cycle is my peak.”

Hull is set to return for the Women’s 5000m heats scheduled for Day 5 of competition tomorrow.

2022 Commonwealth silver medallist Brandon Starc (NSW) may have missed out on a medal tonight but bows out of Budapest competition in equal eighth place after battling a world-class field in the Men’s High Jump.

Despite consecutive first-attempt clearances at 2.20m and 2.25m, the Olympic finalist needed a successful last-ditch clearance at 2.29m to catapult him into medal contention, but was unable to weave together the motions – considering whether a short-season build up due to collarbone surgery in April was to blame.

“Knowing that I didn’t jump to what I’m capable of really sucks. The short-lead up would have played a part but I was definitely feeling much better in the body than I did in the qualifier. Warming up I felt really good but maybe limited comps and not as much jumping this year probably meant I didn’t execute it very well,” Starc said.

With his wife Laura and son Oliver in the crowd, the 29-year-old said the sting will only fuel the fire in his belly for Paris 2024.

“It hurts that I couldn’t deliver with them here. I’ll come back stronger next year, I know it.”

Article and image courtesy of Athletics Australia