Olympic hopeful Linden Hall’s incredible Aussie first

As she sets her sights on the Tokyo Olympics, champion runner Linden Hall has become the first Aussie woman to run 1500m in under four minutes.

Linden Hall at the 2020 Sydney Track Classic Outdoor Track and Field meet.

Champion runner Linden Hall has become the first woman in Australian history to run 1500 metres in under four minutes.

The 29-year-old Olympic hopeful set the new national record on Thursday night in Box Hill with a time of 3:59.67.

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As of April 2, her time places her number 2 in the world for 2021, trailing only Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay.

The previous Australian record was set by Jessica Hull, who ran 4:00.42 at a competition in Berlin last September.

You love to see it! 😮🔥

In case you missed it, last night @Linden_Hall did what no Aussie woman has done before, breaking the 4-minute barrier in the 1500m.🏃‍♀️

Here's the moment she found out she clocked 3:59.67 to take the Australian record! 🇦🇺💪

🎥 @AthsAust#ThisIsAthleticspic.twitter.com/Xnvn7OZxoI

— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) April 1, 2021

“I still can’t believe what just happened and what is happening,” Hall said after her record-breaking win.

“This will take a long time to sink it. I knew as I entered the back stretch on the last lap that I must be close because the crowd was really yelling loudly and cheering; that just really spurs you on.”

Linden Hall competing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

After using last year’s COVID-19 lockdowns as an opportunity to perfect her craft, Hall is hopeful she can make an impact at the Tokyo Olympics.

“I am one of the few people who benefited from lockdown,” she said.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better year, for everything falling into place. The extra delays for the Olympics helped me get my body right, correct any weaknesses in the gym and be fitter and stronger than I would have been.

“Obviously no one wanted the lockdown or the virus but I was one of the people who it ended up helping.”

Hall will hope to become the first Australian woman since Margaret Crowley in 1996 to make it to the women’s 1500m Olympic final.

For now, she’ll set her sights on the national Australian Track and Field Chapmaionships which are set to take place in Sydney this month.

Originally published as Olympic hopeful Linden Hall’s incredible Aussie first