Jessica Hull destroyed the world record in the infrequently run 2000 meters over night, just five days after shattering her personal best in the 1500 meters to establish a new Australian record.
The 27-year-old broke the previous record of 5:21.56 seconds established by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba in 2018 with a time of 5:19.70 in Monaco.
It happened after Hull lost to Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon in the Paris Diamond League, smashing her own record by more than five seconds in the 1500m. In that race, Kipyegon surpassed her own world record, but Hull’s pace remained the fifth fastest ever.
This time, the audience cheered Hull on as she raced against fan-friendly green lights that followed the world record speed across the stadium.
“It was amazing, everyone was yelling for me when I finished the last lap alone,” she remarked. “I was just hoping that they wouldn’t catch me while staring at the lights.”
She continued, “I have my spot in the history books for the time being, but there are definitely some women who can run that 5:19. I put forth a lot of effort and ran hard to get this record.
Hull acknowledged that she was exhausted after her efforts in Paris, but she also pushed herself to new limits during her record run.
Hull smiled, “I felt the Paris race in my legs all week.”
So, even though my legs felt really heavy, the only objective for today was to be powerful. I ran faster than I had ever run and felt more exhausted than I had ever felt.
Hull, who made her Olympic debut in Tokyo last time out, finished 11th in the 1500m final, but she comes into this year’s competition as a serious medal contender.
“Today, I get to be referred to as a world record holder,” she continued. “I have a really strong body now that I have been healthy for four years, which is why I am running so fast.”
Veteran sports analyst David Culbert posted on social media, stating that Jessica Hull has been shattering records in a variety of ways over the past week. In Monaco, a world record in the 2,000 meters. The amazing statistic below about Australia’s first world record being set a century ago. Nick Winter competing in the Olympic triple jump in Paris. Our first gold medallist in a field event.
“2000m World Record for Jess Hull caps off a remarkable week for her,” sports analyst Tim Rosen wrote. In the women’s 1500m, we have never taken home a medal.
100 years to the day after Nick Winter became the first Australian to break a world mark in athletics, Jessica Hull destroys the 2000-meter world record by almost two seconds, clocking in at 5:19.70, according to AthsStats. Jess Hull, you are truly remarkable.
