Commonwealth Games Day 5: Ollie Hoare runs into the history books with gold

7 August 2022

Commonwealth Games Day 5: Ollie Hoare runs into the history books with gold

Day five of the athletics at the Commonwealth Games delivered the extremes of sport for NSW athletes and their supporters. Ollie Hoare joined Edwin Flack and Herb Elliott as our only male 1500m winners at an Olympics, World Champs or Commonwealth Games, but our men’s 4x100m relay didn’t finish when Rohan Browning fell in the race.

Anyone who had watched Ollie Hoare’s races this summer in Europe, believed only Olympic champion, Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen was a match for him. Then he didn’t make the final at the recent World Champs. In Birmingham there was no Ingebrigtsen, but the newly crowned 2022 world champion Jake Wightman and 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot were there.

From the gun it was fast. Through 400m in 54.87, then Cheruiyot yook over leading through 800m in 1:52.15 (split 57). Ollie was well position throughout, a few back and one or two wide.

“I had great positioning and I felt very comfortable and very relaxed,” said Ollie.

Through 1200m in 2:49.09 (split 57) with Cheruiyot still leading. Over the last 200m, Ollie looked to be boxed in on the rail, two back.

He remained patient.
“Running on the inside, I had to stay relaxed and know my time would come and it is hard to believe that with guys that were absolute class, I was able to get out and have the kicker at the end.”

In the home straight, Ollie had to move very wide, into lane three, to pass the three in front of him.

“I knew I could win, I just had to make sure I could hold my form because the guys there. Timothy from Kenyan, is an amazing competitor and he knows how to race hard, and I could see him locking up a little and it gave me an advantage to stay relaxed and keep pushing through and then cross the line I couldn’t believe what I just did.”

Ollie won by just 0.09 seconds. The time was quick, very quick, 3:30.12 breaking the 48-year-old Games record of Filbert Bayi, set in 1974, which was a world record at the time.

Ollie led home seven other athletes setting PBs.

Historically only Edwin Flack (Olympics) and Herb Elliott (Olympics and Commonwealth Games) have won gold in the 1500m at an Olympics, World Championships or Commonwealth Games.

After the race, he revealed his difficult journey between his disappointing World Championships race and today. A week ago his grandfather passed away and the funeral was held the day before his 1500m final in Birmingham.

After his race, Ollie spoke about his grandfather.

“I dedicate that race to my Pop. He was a life member at Sutherland District Athletics club and was a WWII veteran -

Frederick Hoare passed away just after the world champs. It was a very difficult time for me. How bad I had raced, then to hear that news of a guy who would have a stopwatch on every race I ran when I was growing up and going through the sport, and so to have him not there to watch was tough. That’s why I wanted to dedicate that race to my Pop. He is the reason why our family love the sport and the reason why I’m here today. So to Pop ‘I know you are watching - I’ll have a glass of red for you mate. That was a good one.”

The Commonwealth Games also allow Ollie to put behind the World Championships result.

“At the end of the day you have bad races and tactically I ran it very poor (at the World Championships). I had to look at the past last two years of my racing and not one race defines who I am as an athlete and I had a very special opportunity to compete at the Comm Games to represent my country again. Not many times can you come from a disappointment to success. I wanted to prove to Australia and the Commonwealth, that Australian’s are to be feared in the middle distance.”

Women High Jump
Unfortunately yesterday it was announced that Nicola Olyslagers had torn a muscle in her calf in the qualifying rounds and would not start in the high jump final. World champion Eleanor Patterson, then led the hopes for NSW and Australia. 
Solid early, she started to faulter around 1.92m with a miss, then at 1.95m, it was three misses. Eleanor settled for the silver, behind NCAA champion Jamacia’s Lamara Distin which cleared 1.95m.

Men 4x100m Relay

Just prior to the 1500m, Australia was in shock at what happened in the men’s 4x100m relay. NSW’s Josh Azzopardi got the team under way with a very strong leg.

“I felt great out of the blocks and felt it was a good leg,” Josh said.

Then Jacob Despard ran well down the back straight and Jack Hale on the third leg. The team looked in a qualifying position, when Jack was preparing to pass the baton to the anchor Rohan Browning, but inexplicably, Rohan fell on the track. He later explained.

“I caught my toe. It has never happened in training or races,” he said. He was extremely apologetic.

“I’m gutted. So sorry. I know the boys put in so much work. In my years in athletics nothing has ever happened like that and hopefully never again. I’m so sorry to the boys and everybody at home.”

Jack Hale summed up the event’s challengers.

“It’s the relays, so many variables. It is what it is.”

Women 400m hurdles

Sarah Carli, ran a strong race in the 400m hurdles, placing sixth in the final in 55.82.

“I knew the girl in lane 3 was quick so I didn’t want to lose touch with them. I was just focusing on myself and executing.”

Women Hammer throw

Alex Hulley was sixth in the hammer throw final, in a very close competition. After throwing 65.53m early, in the later stages, she remained within two metres of a medal. She then hit 66.26m in round five and 66.16m in the sixth, to finish just 1.09cm from the podium.

The close result left Alex with mixed emotions.

“I’m disappointed, but gratefully to be here. They are happy and sad emotions. I felt good, but just couldn’t put together what we have been working on.

Alex was not as disappointed with the place as the distance.

“I know I can throw further.

“I looked up into the crowd and saw mum and dad which made me very emotional and very glad to have them here to support me.”

Women Shot F55-57

Cherrybrook athlete, Julie Charlton had to wait until the second last day to compete. She opened her shot put competition with a 6.05m effort. She improved to 6.20m in round three, before closing with her best mark of the competition - 6.26m. It was not far short of her PB 6.43m, excellent considering the major occasion for the young athlete.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Ollie Hoare (courtesy of @athleticsaustralia / @christo1966)