History made! Monash student Claudia Hollingsworth smashes 800m Aussie record in Silesia thriller
Monash University student Claudia Hollingswort (centre) has become the fastest Australian woman to run the 800m.
Monash University student Claudia Hollingsworth has stormed into the history books at the Silesia Diamond League, becoming the fastest Australian woman to run the 800m in a race packed with excitement, speed and record-breaking performances.
Just 20 years old and coached by former Olympian Craig Mottram, the rising star lit up the track with a fearless run, clocking a blistering 1:57.67 to finish 5th behind Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson (GBR). In doing so, Hollingsworth shattered Catriona Bisset’s long-standing Australian record of 1:57.78.
What makes the performance even more remarkable is that Hollingsworth is balancing her sporting ambitions with university life, supported by the Monash Elite Student Performer Support (ESPS) Program, proving she’s not only chasing gold on the track, but excellence in the classroom too.
And she didn’t do it alone, with teammate Abbey Caldwell hot on her heels, surging to a personal best of 1:57.70 to also dip under the previous national mark and take 6th place. The race showcased the incredible depth of Australian middle-distance running as Bisset (Trevor Painter), the former record-holder, rounded out the trio in 10th place with a time of 2:00.64.
It was a race to remember: fast, fearless and the perfect statement ahead of the World Athletics Championships, with Nicola Olyslagers and Kurtis Marschall also turning heads in the field events.