Hull breaks world 2000m record with 5:19.70 in Monaco

2024.07.14

Jessica Hull of Australia became the fastest female 2000-meter runner in history on Friday (12), establishing a world record of 5:19.70* at the Herculis EBS Wanda Diamond League race in Monaco, five days after she became the fifth-fastest female 1500-meter runner in history.

Djamel Sedjati solidified his position at No. 3 on the world 800m all-time list and Jakob Ingebrigtsen did the same for his placement at No. 4 on the world 1500m all-time list in a meeting that has grown to be renowned as a middle-distance heaven. Men’s 400-meter hurdles also took center stage as Rai Benjamin defeated Karsten Warholm and Alison dos Santos in a titanic battle.

Hull maintained a steady pace throughout the 2000m, setting a new world record of 5:21.56 established by Francine Niyonsaba in September 2021. She kept her concentration and the trackside lights showing the world record pace never left her side as she followed closely behind the pacemakers as they went through the 1000 meters in 2:39.88.

After the second pacemaker, Heather MacLean of the USA, stood aside, Hull followed suit. Once MacLean had exited the track, Hull faced the clock. Hull broke the previous world record by nearly two seconds by crossing the finish line in 5:19.70, storming away from the lights as she round the last corner.

“It was incredible. When I was on my own on the last lap, everyone was cheering for me,” said Hull. “I was just looking at the lights, hoping they wouldn’t catch me.

“I definitely felt the Paris race all week in my legs. So today the goal was just to be strong, even if my legs were very heavy. I ran at a different pace and level of fatigue that I have never been at before.

“There are for sure some women who can run that 5:19, but for now I have my place in the history books. I ran hard for this record, I worked extremely hard for this.”

.@charith