Jessica Hull finishes third as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon breaks women’s 1500m world record

Australia’s golden girl Jessica Hull finished on the podium in a in a historic 1500m race with Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, who became the first woman to break the 3.50 minute barrier.

FLORENCE, ITALY - JUNE 02: Faith Kipyegon of Team Kenya interacts with Jessica Hull of Team Australia and Ciara Mageean of Team Ireland after victory in the Women's 1500m during the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, part of the Diamond League series at Rodolfi Stadium on June 02, 2023 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Australia’s golden girl Jessica Hull has put herself in the spotlight ahead of Paris 2024 with a podium finish in a historic 1500m race in which Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon became the first woman to shatter the 3.50 minute barrier.

Hull raced to third place setting a new Australian and Oceania record in a time of 3:57.29 minutes.

But it was Kipyegon who stole the limelight in the Florence Diamond League, crossing the line in 3.49.11 minutes – setting a new world record for the women’s 1500m.

The previous record of 3.50.07 minutes was set by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba in Monaco in 2015.

“I’m so excited, so happy, I didn’t expect this. I was expecting a world lead, not a world record, but I’m so grateful,” Kipyegon said.

“As I said today and yesterday everything is possible.”

Kipyegon, considered the greatest ever women’s 1500m runner, has two world and two Olympic titles to her name.

Faith Kipyegon, Jessica Hull and Ciara Mageean the Women's 1500m in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

She finished more than eight seconds ahead of reigning European champion Laura Muir and Hull.

The Aussie was more than happy with her performance.

“That race has been in my legs for a few years now and it was a matter of maturing as an athlete, probably from the mental side of things,” Hull said.

“Committing to a race that was going to go that quick shows some maturity and some big steps forward and I think we can go a little bit quicker because I was in no-mans land for a lot of it and I know that if I could stay connected, then maybe we could go a bit quicker,” Hull said.

Hull, who cut more than 1.5-seconds off her previous record of 3:58.81 from the Tokyo Olympic Games, along with Great Britian’s Muir, were the only two brace enough to match Kipyegon blistering pace in the opening laps.

Faith Kipyegon set a new world record. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

“I went out pretty hard. It was pretty obvious from the start that Laura Muir was going to want to go quick so I followed her. I looked up at 500m in and thought it was a bit hot for me,” Hull said.

“I was caught in no-man’s land when I was out there but instead of being in my own head, I just got back into the race plan and fought well. I kept my eye up on Laura and found my legs again.

“It was pretty crazy to be part of a world record race and I didn’t realise what had happened because I was wrecked when I was finished, but I was so excited when I realised. We all respect Faith so much and it seems right that she has the world record now because she truly is the greatest and it’s really exciting to be part of it.”

Abbey Caldwell snared a sixth-place finish in 4:01.34, while Linden Hall crossed the line in 10th place with a time of 4:02.43.

Nina Kennedy finished third in the pole vault. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

In other events, Nina Kennedy won bronze in the pole vault, with her 4.61m jump.

After a miss on her opening height of 4.41m, Kennedy delivered three consecutive jumps which helped her secure the podium placing on countback. An amazing effort considering her recent battles with injury.

“I honestly wasn’t feeling that confident coming in. I messed up in Doha (at a previous Diamond League this year). The last few weeks have been a bit hectic with training and I’m finishing my uni degree this semester, so things haven’t been that great but I think I put it together as well as I could have tonight,” Kennedy said.

“I had zero expectations going in. This was a process competition – go through the processes and execute what you know and the result will follow.

“I was feeling good attempting 4.71m. I had some pretty big height over it, but there are so many factors in pole vault, that everything has to align.

“It didn’t align tonight unfortunately but there were some really promising signs for the next couple of months.”

Kennedy defeated World Championships silver medallists Sandi Morris (USA) showing much promise for the Paris Olympics next year.

Super sprinter Rohan Browning clocked 10.15 (0.0) in a race off against some of the world’s fastest men.

The Flying Mullet was sixth across the line, marginally in front of Jamaican Yohan Blake.

The Men’s 5000m was one of the races of the night as Stewart McSweyn finished in 16th place in a time of 13:23.81.

Feeling the pinch of a fast early pace McSweyn lost contact with the front runners and was forced to grind his way to the finish line as Spain’s Mohamed Katir took gold.