Middle distance stars Rose Davies and Georgia Griffith have delivered a memorable night in Australian distance running history, producing a pair of record-breaking performances at the London Diamond League, while Jessica Hull and Eleanor Patterson added to the nation’s success with podium finishes in world class fields.
Davies (NSW, Scott Westcott) delivered the most commanding run of her career in the Women’s 5000m, taking on a world-class field with grit. Staying composed through a fast opening kilometre and holding her place in a surging pack, Davies timed her attack to perfection, navigating congestion and surges to finish third in 14:31.45.
The run obliterated her previous national record by almost nine seconds, and marked her third Australian record of the season.
“I was ready for a big race and I felt like I responded to the challenge today,” Davies said.
“We started off quickly which got us into a strong pace but then it slowed a bit, so I had to tell myself not to worry about the time, the race is a race. Gaps kept forming on the inside so I kept going through and then at the bell, there was such a big pack which is not usual for a Diamond League so I had to fight for places. My expectations were a PB and I have achieved that, so I am really pleased.”
Just metres behind her, Griffith (VIC, Nic Bideau) produced a breakthrough of her own, storming to a lifetime best of 14:32.82, for a surprise 30-second personal best to finish fifth. The performance not only saw her break the 15-minute barrier for the first time but catapulted her to second on the Australian all-time list, breaking Davies’ previous record, and secured her qualification in the distance for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September.
Jessica Hull (NSW, Simon Hull) continued her momentum in 2025 with another Australian record in the Women’s Mile, finishing second behind Ethiopian great Gudaf Tsegay, in 4:13.68.
The run shaved almost two seconds off her own Australian record in a race where Tsegay set a new meet record and world leading time of 4:11.88. Demonstrating tactical strength, Hull stayed close to the front throughout the race and delivered a fierce final lap to secure the runner-up spot.
“It was a very strange race in that 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. 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.”
Australia’s depth in the event was further underlined by personal and season’s best times from Linden Hall (VIC, Ned Brophy-Williams) and Abbey Caldwell (VIC, Gavin Burren). Hall ran a career-best 4:19.58 to finish ninth, while Caldwell crossed in 4:20.74.
Olympic medallist Eleanor Patterson (VIC, Fuzz Caan and Marco Fassinotti) returned to the Diamond League podium with a strong second-place finish in the Women’s High Jump, clearing 1.93m in tricky, rain-affected conditions.
The 2022 world champion held her own, finishing behind Great Britain’s Morgan Lake who equalled her season’s best at 1.96m, and edged out both world record holder Yaroslava Mahuchikh (UKR) and Germany’s Christina Honsel on countback.
“I still cleared 1.93m on a day that wasn’t ideal, so I can’t be too mad about it,” Patterson said. “The atmosphere was incredible. It felt like a championship crowd and definitely gave me goosebumps.”
Claudia Hollingsworth (VIC, Craig Mottram) made her Diamond League debut one to remember in the Women’s 800m, finishing fourth in a personal best time of 1:58.02. The 20-year-old showed confidence well beyond her years, positioning herself smartly as Great Britain’s Georgia Bell won in 1:56.74. In another strong showing, Sarah Billings (VIC, Nic Bideau) clocked 1:58.99 to finish seventh.
Rising star Jude Thomas (QLD, Collis Birmingham) placed first amongst Australia’s best metric milers, mixing it with some of the world’s best in the Men’s 1500m to finish fifth in 3:32.36 – just shy of his personal best.
The 23-year-old held his nerve through a tactical race, before launching a powerful final lap to overtake several high-profile names, including Olympic champion Selemon Barega (ETH), Great Britain’s George Mills and his compatriot global medallist Neil Gourley, and asserting himself as one of Australia’s strongest rising stars in middle distance running.
Teenager Cameron Myers (ACT, Dick Telford) was looking to be a true contender for another Diamond League win, before crashing down after a trip from George Mills ahead of him with 150m to go. Despite the severity of the fall, Myers picked himself up but was forced to settle for 13th place in 4:24.03.
Adam Spencer (VIC, Mick Byrne) clocked 3:32.88 to finish eighth and clock his first qualifier for Tokyo, while Olympic finalist Oliver Hoare (NSW, Dathan Riztenhein) who also got caught up in the fall, crossed the line in 3:34.03 for 11th.
Reece Holder (QLD, Christopher Dale) continued his breakout season with a strong run in the Men’s 400m, finishing sixth in 44.76. Running from Lane 2 in his Diamond League debut, the 22-year-old matched his third fastest time as he pursues a 36-year-old Australian record.
In other results tonight, long jumper Liam Adcock (QLD) finished sixth with a best leap of 7.89m. After opening with 7.78m, the Olympian registered three fouls before landing his top mark in his final attempt. Torrie Lewis (QLD, Laurent Meuwly) lined up in Lane One for the Women’s 200m, finishing eighth in 23.05 (-0.6) in a race that saw Saint Lucia’s Olympic champion Julien Alfred storm to a world lead and national record of 21.71.
A non Diamond League event tonight, the Australian Women’s 4x100m team of Gabriella Taylor (NSW, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor and Katie Edwards), Lewis, Olivia Rose Inkster (NSW, Melinda Gainsford-Taylor and Katie Edwards) and Lakara Stallan (NSW, Andrew Murphy) combined to finish fifth in 43.80.
The Diamond League will take a brief hiatus for the Northern Hemisphere championship season, returning on August 16 in Silesia, Poland.
By Sascha Ryner, Australian Athletics
Posted: 20/7/2025
