Myers and Hull Secure Second-Place Finishes at Ultimate Athletics Championship
Australian athletes Cam Myers and Jess Hull have delivered outstanding performances on the track, securing second-place finishes for Australia on the final day of the inaugural Ultimate Athletics Championship in Budapest. Both athletes earned $US75,000 ($105,000) for their efforts.
Cam Myers and Jess Hull have delivered outstanding performances on the track, securing second-place finishes for Australia on the final day of the inaugural Ultimate Athletics Championship in Budapest.
Myers ran what he described as a "perfect" race, finishing runner-up to Commonwealth Games mile champion Josh Kerr in the 1,500 metres, while Hull was second in the 5,000m. Both athletes earned $US75,000 ($105,000) for their efforts.
Aussie Challenge Falls Short
The Australian team's challenge ultimately ended without a victory in the sport's new, lucrative three-day global event. The night began disappointingly, with 21-year-old Torrie Lewis withdrawing from the 200m due to injury, a day after Lachlan Kennedy narrowly missed the men's 100m final by 0.05 of a second.
Hull Shines in 5,000m
Hull lifted the mood with an impressive performance in the 5,000m. After fading to ninth in Saturday's 1,500m final, she was considered an outsider in the longer event. However, she settled into the pack and, with a steady pace, managed to find a way through on the inside to secure a brilliant second place behind Ethiopian star Likina Amebaw. Hull achieved a massive lifetime best of 14 minutes and 32.39 seconds.
"That's much more reflective of the athlete I am," Hull said. "I don't have an answer for the 1,500m last night. I was just quick to say, 'Forget about it and move on.' I've been able to do that a few times in a 5K now — bounce back — so I'm really proud of that. I've had a great year."
Myers Impresses in 1,500m
The men's 1,500m featured a deep field, including mile world record holder Kerr, Olympic champion Cole Hocker, and last year's surprise world champion Isaac Nader. Myers, 20, was more than qualified to compete after winning the Diamond League final in Brussels a week earlier.
Myers ran a smarter race, moving into second position at the bell and giving himself a clear path to challenge Kerr. Although Kerr did not falter, clocking 3:29.35, Myers settled for second in 3:29.68.
"Sometimes you run a perfect race and it's still not enough," Myers wrote on Instagram. "It's bittersweet," Myers said. "I thought at 200m to go that I was going to give it a proper crack. I felt like I wasn't working too hard."
"At 100m I thought I still had a good chance and then I came to 50 to go and I was like, 'Wow, that's what a world record holder looks like.' So, he was just too strong today, but I think I ran a perfect race."
"This is me becoming the athlete I wanted to be," Myers said.
The event concluded with two excellent 200m finals, where American duo Kenny Bednarek and Melissa Jefferson-Wooden completed 100/200m doubles to earn $US300,000 ($419,000) each.