Eleanor Patterson sparkles in Diamond League

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship athlete, Eleanor Patterson, and Victoria’s Linden Hall, have sailed to a pair of podium finishes at the Xiamen Diamond League, building on the white-hot form of Australia’s track and field women as the Diamond League season edges closer to its finale.

Back-to-back global medallist Patterson (Alex Stewart) climbed to her first Diamond League podium of the season, adding third-place finish in Xiamen to her World Championships silver from Budapest last week.

The 2022 world champion cleared a modest 1.92m on her third and final attempt but competed strongly at Egret Stadium, despite being ultimately being unable to match it with reigning Ukrainian world champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh who overcame early trouble to clear 2.02m.

After six of the seven Diamond League meetings featuring the Women’s High Jump, Patterson sits in seventh position in qualifying on 11 points for the Diamond League Final to be held from September 16-17.

Eighteen-year-old NSWIS athlete Erin Shaw (Alex Stewart) continued to enjoy a year of firsts, marking her Diamond League debut with a 1.78m clearance when finishing in eighth place, adding the occasion to her 2023 World Championships debut and 2022’s fourth-place finish at the World Under 20 Championships.

Australian 1500m record holder Hall (Ned Brophy-Williams) has torched her way to the second fastest time of her career and the fourth fastest time in Australian history in Xiamen, China when clocking  a scorching 3:57.92 for third place in the field which featured nine women who have sub-four minute readings to their name.

Struggling to find the shortest way home when being posted in lane two on the opening lap, the two-time Olympian remained calm and built throughout the race as the fierce pace forced the field into single file formation, leaving Hall with clear air when chasing eventual winner Freweyni Hailu of Ethiopia (3:56.56).

“I’m really relieved to get that time on the board and show off the fitness I knew I had in Budapest, but unfortunately wasn’t able to get right last week. While it was a little messy through the first 600m or so, I was really pleased with how I navigated the race and put myself in a good position to finish strong,” Hall said.

Determined to capitalise on her form despite being unsuccessful in her bid to make the Women’s 1500m Final at the Budapest World Championships, Hall emphasised the importance of continuing her season against the world’s best – now standing in ninth place in qualifying for the Diamond League Final in Eugene.

“It’s definitely exciting to run that time with such a slow second lap, I really wanted to finish my season on a high and this is a great start to the post-championships part of the season. Hopefully we can squeeze out another personal best,” Hall said.

World Championships fifth-place finisher Nelly Chepchirchir (Kenya) claimed second place in a time of 3:56.72.

Australian record holder Brooke Buschkeuhl (Russell Stratton) bounced back from a disappointing World Championships in Budapest to produce a top-five finish in Xiamen, with her second-round effort of 6.52m (+0.1) earning her fifth place – two-centimetres shy of fourth place but one-centimetre clear of sixth as the event was won by Serbia’s Ivana Vuleta (6.88m).

The consistent sequence featured four jumps over 6.40m, leaving Buschkuehl in fourth place at the conclusion of qualification for the Diamond League Final to be held at Hayward Field.

The penultimate Diamond League meeting before the final will be held in Brussels on September 8.

Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia