World Indoor Championships Preview: NSW athletes in the medal hunt

Published Fri 18 Mar 2022

18 March 2022

World Indoor Championships Preview: NSW athletes in the medal hunt

The 18th edition of the World Athletics Indoor Championships commences Friday evening with our inform NSW athletes in strong podium positions. Competing against 680 athletes from 137 teams, high jumper Eleanor Patterson and distance runners Jessica Hull and Olli Hoare could all take home medals and lead a record five NSW athletes competing in Belgrade, Serbia.

Eleanor Patterson (BAN) has been perfect this northern Hemisphere winter, with three wins from three starts including defeats of the Olympic gold and bronze medallists. She has also raised the Australian record from 1.97m to 1.99m and going into the competition is ranked number one a staggering 3cm better than the next best athlete. She will face an emotional Yaroslava Mahuchikh of the Ukraine. The Olympic bronze medallist and owner of an outdoor PB of 2.06m. Mahuchikh has had two competitions this year, leaping 1.96m and 1.92m.

Olli Hoare (SUT) going into the men’s 1500m ranked seventh on his 3:35.51 seasons best. But over the mile and 5000m he has been quality this season, taking both Australian Indoor records. On December 4 he took 26 seconds off the Australian Indoor 5000m record clocking 13:09.96. Then on January 29, over two seconds from the Australian mile record with a time of 3:50.83.

Entered in the women’s 1500m and 3000m Jessica Hull’s event focus is unknown. This is her potential schedule:

Belgrade time:

Friday 12:30 1500m heat

Friday 20:30 3000m final

Saturday 20:35 1500m final

This season Jessica Hull (BAN) has broken the Australian Indoor mile and 3000m records in January, amongst a four-meet campaign which has included races in New York and Madrid. She recorded 4:24.06 and 8:39.79 in the mile and 3000m respectively.

Making his senior Australian team debut, Nick Andrews (CHE), 25, has been rewarded for a major commitment to his hurdling craft by relocating to Arizona for specialists coaching. He made his debut this year over the Indoor 60m hurdles and missed setting a national record by just six days. After starting with a best of 7.86 seconds, he has now clocked times of 7.72, then 7.71. He is ranked 32rd in the men’s field of 49 athletes.

The Australian Indoor 800m record holder with 1:45.59 set in 2021, Charlie Hunter (ASW) has this year joined Jess Hull’s group under coach Peter Julian. Charlie in 2022 has run a pair of 1:48s in the 800m indoors and two mile races.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Charlie Hunter and Olli Hoare competing Indoors in America.

NSW Athletes Competition Timetable

Belgrade	AEDT	M/F	Event	Phase	Athlete/s

DAY 1 - Morning - Friday 18 March
12:30	22:30	W	1500m	Round 1	Jessica Hull
13:00	23:00	M	800m	Round 1	Charlie Hunter

DAY 1 - Evening - Friday 18 March
Opening Ceremony
20:30	06:30 Saturday	W	3000m	Final	Jessica Hull

DAY 2 - Morning - Saturday 19 March
11:00	21:00	W	High Jump	Final	Eleanor Patterson
12:15	22:15	M	1500m	Round 1	Oliver Hoare

DAY 2 - Evening - Saturday 19 March
19:10	05:10 Sunday	M	800m	Final	Charlie Hunter
20:35	06:35 Sunday	W	1500m	Final	Jessica Hull


DAY 3 - Morning - Sunday 20 March
10:05	20:05	M	60m Hurdles	Round 1	Nick Andrews

DAY 3 - Morning - Sunday 20 March
17:05	03:05 Monday	M	60m Hurdles	Semi	Nick Andrews
18:35	04:35 Monday	M	1500m	Final	Oliver Hoare
19:30	05:30 Monday	M	60m Hurdles	Final	Nick Andrews