Podium for Patterson at World Indoors

20 March 2022

Podium for Patterson at World Indoors

In a dramatic competition at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, Eleanor Patterson was magnificent in the women’s high jump, becoming the second Australian woman over 2.00m as she clinched the silver medal.

Leading into the competition, Eleanor Patterson (BAN) had won all her leadup competitions and raised the Australian record to 1.99m, but Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, Yaroslava Mahuchikh was always going to be a threat. A Ukraine and with a PB of 2.06m, she had only cleared 1.96m this summer.

Eleanor started magnificently, clear on her first attempt at 1.84m, 1.88m, 1.92m, 1.95m. She required two attempts at 1.98m, then cleared 2.00m on her second attempt to take a clear lead. But Mahuchikh responded nailing 2.02m on the first attempt. Eleanor passed her second and third attempts at 2.02m to take a crack at 2.04m, where she went very close on her second attempt.

“It's amazing to win a first senior global medal,” Eleanor told World Athletics.
"I am incredibly proud to be able to come here and come away with a silver medal and a PB. I knew coming here that I was in good form but I don't think it's going to sink in for a bit just what I've done. Jumping two metres and also getting the silver at a Worlds is huge.”

Eleanor feels she has turned a corner in her career.
“This could be a game-changer for me. I feel like it's just a taster of what's to come in the future. I'm really excited. “

Clearing the two metre barrier?
“Two metres is always this elusive barrier in high jump. It's my first time over two metres too, so you can't knock that. I've been attempting it countless times since I was 17 or 18, so to finally get it is a very special feeling.”

Eleanor also had some kind words for the Ukraine winner Yaroslava Mahuchikh and a small gesture of support.
“To win a silver behind Yaroslava makes it even more special. She's had to deal with such hardships that no-one deserves to, so I'm incredibly proud of her too. I'm in the same hotel as the Ukrainian team, and I was able to see them beforehand and exchange small smiles and little gestures of support. I have such respect for both girls and all the Ukrainians who have made it here. It's incredible to see them and phenomenal for Yaroslava to come away with the gold. I said a few words to her at the end and I painted my nails blue with a yellow love heart on them today just to communicate a small gesture to them that my heart goes out to them. I think she appreciated it.”

Eleanor also had an eye on what is ahead for her in 2022.
“It's amazing to win a first senior global medal. It's phenomenal in such an exciting year for athletics. It's a very big year with worlds and Commonwealth Games, so it's great to be coming into form with this ahead of me after such a tumultuous career. I just love this sport and competing in these environments with such incredible athletes. It's a joy."

Women 3000m  Final
Jessica Hull (BAN) by passed the 1500m heats in the morning to concentrate on the 3000m final on day one of competition. Throughout the race, she was always in the mix, saying out of the traffic throughout. Around eighth place for much of the later part of the race, she kicked at the bell, eventually placing sixth in 8:48.97. It was the equal second highest place by an Australian and second fastest Aussie at the championships.

“Going into the race today, I expected it to take a little while to wind up just based on the way the previous indoor World Championships 3000m races have gone. I just wanted to approach it like I used to think about cross country races in college – time means nothing and place means everything,” Jessica told Athletics Australia.

An experienced indoor runner, Jessica successfully negotiated the 15 laps and 20 competitors.
“The race was very typical of a 3km or 5km race on the world stage. It was bunched up, physical and lots of surges and then settling back down which makes it leek like a fartlek. I was prepared for that style of race and having been in a few outdoor 5km races before that have a similar feel helped me stay composed,” she said.
“I’m really proud of how relaxed I was out there tonight amongst the messiness. That’s a big step forward for me and experience that will help me later this year as we head into a big outdoor season.”

Men 1500m Heat
Olli Hoare (SUT) looked very smooth progressing easily from his 1500m heat into final on Monday morning at 4:35 AEDT. He clocked a comfortable 3:38.43.

"For me the race was just about trying to keep it even and conserve as much as possible and come home strong, make sure I make the top two.” Olli told World Athletics. 
“I knew Kipsang was going to go off fast. If you watch the Olympic semi, he did it then, ran 3:31 and broke the Olympic record, so it's no surprise. I'm happy to have a fast race. I just stayed in touch and worked my way back to him, kept in contract, and made sure I had some energy at the end. In the 1500m, positioning is so crucial. In the final, if I can stay in a good position, I'll be going for it. My main goal is either to be at the front or chasing hard."

Men 800m Heat
Tokyo Olympian Charlie Hunter (ASW) ran well to place sixth in his 800m heat clocking 1:49.07. He bowed out of the championships ranked 13th overall. He had become the first Australian to ever contest the 800m at the World Indoors 

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Eleanor Patterson (World Athletics)