Competing at her first Olympic Games, Jessica Hull became one of the faces of Australia’s strong showing on the track at Tokyo 2020 -- reaching the finals of the women’s 1500m after setting a new Australian and Oceanian record in the semifinals. Hull ended up finishing 11th in that final ultimately won by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, while fellow Australian Linden Hall finished sixth. 

The pair’s strong showings were one of a number of surprise stories to come out of Tokyo 2020 for Australian track; Stewart McSweyn and Ollie Hoare reaching the final in the men’s 1500m, Peter Bol captivating the nation in the 800m, Rohan Browning winning a heat and making the semis in the 100m, and Ash Moloney -- with a healthy assist from mate Cedric Dubler -- securing Australia a first-ever medal in the decathlon.  

At just 24-years-old and now entering her running prime, Hull had hoped to use Tokyo 2020 as a springboard and now has her sights on the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

But before all of that, the Illawara native is set to compete in the prestigious Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon against the likes of Kipyegon, Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Laura Muir and Hall. 

Joining Beyond the Lead from Portland, Oregon, she sat down with ESPN’s Joey Lynch to talk about the Prefontaine Classic, he memories of Tokyo, the conditions and life in the Village, the superhuman efforts of 1500m bronze medalist and 5000 and 1000m champion, if she’ll be able to get back to Australia this year, and much more. 

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