Medal contender Jessica Hull has led a trio of Australians into the women’s 1500m semi-finals on day one of the world athletics championships in Budapest.
Hull controlled the last of the four heats, running in the top two throughout and crossing the line in second spot in four minutes 03.50 seconds, just behind Ethiopian Hirut Meshesha.
“It’s not really a secret any more – that’s the way I like to run,” said the 26-year-old Hull, who is looking to improve on her seventh-placed finish at last year’s world championships in Eugene, Oregon.
“I like to have free running room, I like to feel close to the auto qualifying spots, I don’t like to run from behind. Why change it now?
“I know from experience now that there are some women here who run today like it’s their final so you’ve got to respect that, know they’re going to run hard and try to knock you down a bit.”
National record holder Linden Hall – who felt unwell before and after her race – snuck through to the semis after finishing sixth in the quickest of the four heats in 4:01.45.
Birmingham Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Abbey Caldwell (4:04.16) also advanced to the semis on Sunday (early Monday AEST).
But the news was not so good for two-time Commonwealth Games silver medallist Brooke Buschkuehl, who was in tears after crashing out in the qualifying round of the women’s long jump.
Buschkuehl could only 6.55m, which was 58cm shy of her personal best.
Countrywoman Samantha Dale (6.35m) also failed to advance.
Spain’s Alvaro Martin claimed the first gold medal of the championships with victory in the men’s 20km walk in one hour, 17 minutes and 32 seconds.
Declan Tingay was the leading Australian in eighth spot in a PB of 1:18:30.
Rhydian Cowley was 14th and Kyle Swan was 40th in a race where the start was delayed by two hours due to early-morning thunderstorms in the Hungarian capital.