Athletics 2024: Kennedy’s pole vault title tops stellar Diamond League campaign for Aussies

Australia’s Paris medal winning track and field stars have capped a stellar year with outstanding efforts in one of the most ‘high-pressure environments’ at the Diamond League championships in Brussels.

Olympic champion Nina Kennedy has topped the most successful season of her career with a Diamond League championship after digging deep to snare the pole vault title in Brussels.

Up against the top women in the world in the event - rivals Kennedy felt were “out for blood” in the Diamond League final after her domination this season - the West Australian managed to handle the pressure to take one of the most prestigious titles in athletics outside the Olympics and world championships.

“It was probably one of the highest-pressure environments I’ve competed in this year,” Kennedy said.

“I’d gone seven wins in a row and felt the girls were out for blood tonight. I could feel it.

“(Clearing) 4.88m on my first attempt will get you the win. I wanted 4.95m.

“I’ve had the best and most consistent season of my life but I didn’t get a personal best this year.

Nina Kennedy is having a stellar season. Picture: AFP

“It’s a Diamond League final for a reason though. It’s the seven best girls in the world and they made me really earn it tonight.”

Kennedy’s title added to the discus championship won by Olympic medallist Matt Denny on the opening night of the finals in what has been a stellar year for Australian athletics.

Jessica Hull rounded out the best year of her career with bronze in the 1500m, powering past Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu in the finishing straight to get on to the podium.

“That caps it off perfectly. The best finish in a Diamond League final to cap off a year that I kept surprising myself in,” Hull said.

Jessica Hull won bronze in the Diamond League after taking out the silver medal in Paris. Picture: Getty Images

“I just wanted to be a bit safer tonight. This time of the year, the wheels can fall off and I really didn’t want that to happen so I needed to run a bit smarter.

“I knew I could pick some pieces up in the race … and had a battle with Freweyni (Hailu) down the home straight and I thought, how good is that! Final one for the year!”

Georgia Griffith was sixth in the same race, clocking a lifetime best of 3min 58.40sec, less than 1.5sec off the podium.

Olympic finalist Mackenzie Little finished fifth in the javelin final after a third-round best throw of 61.5m.

Kennedy, Denny and Hull were joined on the podium by Olympic high jump silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers, who finished second on the opening day of finals after another epic battle with Paris gold medallist Yaroslava Mahuchikh.

Originally published as Athletics 2024: Kennedy’s pole vault title tops stellar Diamond League campaign for Aussies