Day six of the athletics program in Tokyo saw Peter Bol deliver a historic result in the men’s 800m final, whilst Jessica Hull (Albion Park Little Athletics) rewrote the record books and Ash Moloney (Jimboomba Little Athletics) sits in second place of the decathlon overnight.
Peter Bol put the nation on his back this week as he rose to stardom on the Olympic stage, emerging as a genuine medal contender in the men’s 800m final after running consecutive national records in the heats and semi-finals.
Bol’s semi-final win saw him become the first Australian man to take on an Olympic 800m final since Ralph Doubell in 1968, and he was not just there to fill a lane – he was there to win.
Bol surged to the lead through the bell as he began his long run for home – a lead that he would hold into the straight before fading in the final 50-metres to clock 1:45.92 and finish in fourth place.
“I’m actually pretty gutted with a fourth place at the Olympic Games, so it shows how great this year has been. We’ve made a final but at the same time, the goal was to win,” he said.
“It’s going to hurt for the next week or so and then we’re going to bounce back.”
Australia has fallen in love with Bol for his brave tactics, entertaining antics and well-spoken interviews as he paves the way for Australian athletes – a path that he says others can follow.
“We are a nation of champions, we are courageous. We can produce champions just like they can, we’re all humans at the end of the day. I respect the Kenyans, but I don’t fear them,” he said.
His performance is the highest place finish by an Australian male on the track at an Olympic Games since Darren Clarke’s fourth place in the 400m in 1988.
Just moments before Bol’s brilliance, Jessica Hull set a new 1500m national and area record 3:58.81 in the biggest race of her life to safely progress to the Olympic final.
Hull eclipsed Linden Hall’s record of 3:59.67 year during the semi-final encounter, looking strong until the home straight where she was forced to dig deep before crossing the line in record time.
“Since 2019 World Championships we knew I was ready to do it, but today I skipped the 3:59’s and went straight to 3:58’s,” she said.
“I’ve been waiting for a race like this for so long now, I was so excited. I think when you know you’re ready it’s really exciting, I wasn’t nervous today I just got to go out there and see what I was capable of.”
Hull has been lightly raced in 2021 but her preparation has proven a success so far, with the 24-year-old relishing the Australian team environment ahead of her date with the Olympic 1500m final.
“Everyone around me in this Australian team is PB’ing and making finals or finishing in the top eight - it’s contagious,” she said.
Linden Hall (Sunbury Little Athletics) followed suit in her heat when leading the race in bold fashion and forcing a quick pace, before mustering a 61-second final lap to cross the line in 4:01.37 and navigate her way to the final. The result came as a relief to Hall, who missed the 1500m final in Rio by one position.
Heading into the race, Hall’s plan was simple with the first five across the line to automatically advance to the final.
“Top five, stay alive,” she said.
The now-former Australian record holder was full of praise for her Australian teammate, delighted that they will contend the Olympic final together.
“I hope that we can keep pushing each other and tag-teaming that record, it’s great for middle distance running in Australia,” she said.
“It’s super exciting that Jess and I get to do it together, it’s nice going through the processes with a teammate.”
The dynamic duo of Ash Moloney and Cedric Dubler (Toowong/Aspley Little Athletics) took to one of the most gruelling events on the athletics program – the decathlon.
Moloney kick-started the day in style when registering a new 100m personal best of 10.34, before finishing second in the long jump with a leap of 7.64m. Dubler soon recorded a lifetime best of his own with a 13.35m effort in the shot put.
The night session belonged to Moloney, who equalled his 2.11m personal best in the high jump despite being plagued by patella tendonitis – recently switching jumping legs in attempt to ease the pain. The 21-year-old proceeded to demolish the field in the 400m leg of the decathlon, clocking 46.29 to close out his favoured day one.
Heading into day two Moloney sits in second place on 4641 points, whilst Dubler is ranked 15th on 4184 points ahead of the final five events on the card.
It was not the birthday fairy tale planend for Genevieve Gregson (Helensvale Little Athletics) in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final, rupturing her Achilles tendon over the final water jump of the race. The three-time Olympian was helped off the track on a wheelchair but posted to Instagram shortly after to confirm the injury.
“Thank you for all the support and lovely messages. For now I need to mend my heart, soul and Achilles,” she said.
Nick Hough went down having given it is all in the 110m hurdles semi-finals, clocking 13.88 to finish in seventh place of the race. Hough acquired a niggle during his heat performance and was inhibited leading into the semi-final, with his maiden Olympic campaign drawing to a close.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Coles Little Athletics Australia acknowledges and pays respect to all traditional custodians of the lands of which we work, run, jump and throw throughout Australia. We pay respect to elders both past, present and emerging.
We are committed to a positive future for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to honor their ongoing cultural and spiritual connections to this country and recognize the role and value of culture.
