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Peter Bol breaks 1:45 barrier for tenth time in career ahead of World Championships and Commonwealth Games

Ben Smith and John SalvadoThe West Australian
Peter Bol, pictured here at the Tokyo Olympics, looms as a major medals hope at the upcoming World Championships and Commonwealth Games (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Camera IconPeter Bol, pictured here at the Tokyo Olympics, looms as a major medals hope at the upcoming World Championships and Commonwealth Games (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Credit: Petr David Josek/AP

Peter Bol’s World Championship and Commonwealth Games preparations have continued to ramp up as the West Australian turned heads with another impressive outing.

The 800m runner and Olympic finalist recorded a sub-1:45 run his pet event for the 10th time in career to take victory at the World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Level meeting in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.

Bol, who is firming up for a medal at both upcoming meets in Eugene and Birmingham, claimed victory in a time of 1:44.26 at his last hit-out before the World Championships.

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The time was just 0.26 seconds slower than his season-best run at a Diamond League meet in Paris a few weeks earlier which secured him a silver medal.

It came as fellow Australian Jessica Hull broke the national mile record with a time of 4:19.89 in Beverton, Washington.

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The US-based Hull now holds the Australian records for the 1500m, mile, 3000m and 5000m and the indoor records for the 1500m, mile and 3000m.

High-profile Australian duo Rohan Browning and Kelsey-Lee Barber also produced hugely encouraging performances in their last hit-outs before the world athletics championships in Oregon.

Sprint star Browning has clocked 10.08 seconds at a Continental Tour Challenger meet meet in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland - his fastest 100m time since his sizzling 10.01 at last year’s Tokyo Olympics.

It was a timely return to form for the Sydneysider, who had not gone quicker than 10.28 in any of his four previous outings in Europe.

TOKYO, JAPAN - JULY 31: Rohan Browning of Team Australia reacts after competing in the Men's 100m Round 1 heats on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)
Camera IconRohan Browning stunned the world by making the final of the men’s 100m at the Tokyo Olympics and now he’s poised for another Commonwealth Games. Credit: Matthias Hangst/Getty Images

Browning was fifth in a race won by Sri Lanka’s Yupun Abeykoon (9.96), who became the first man from South Asia to break the 10-second barrier.

Cuban Reynier Mena finished second in 9.99 and then went on to clock a slick 19.63 in the 200m.

Noted big-event performer Barber - who will be defending the world title she won in brilliant style three years ago in Doha - won the women’s javelin on Sunday (Monday AEST) with a best throw of 61.40m at a meet in Edmonton, Canada.

“A great final competition before Eugene. She’s ready to go,” tweeted Barber’s coach and husband Mike Barber.

The Australian squad will now head to Seattle for a staging camp ahead of the July 15-24 world championships in Eugene.

The final team is set to be confirmed on Wednesday, once a couple of appeals against non-selection have been heard.

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