World Athletics Championships: Hull sets record, while Little and Davies progress to final

17 September 2025

World Athletics Championships: Hull sets record, while Little and Davies progress to final 

NSW athletes have produced some dazzling performances across days five to seven at the world championships being held in very warm and humid conditions in Tokyo this week.

Three highlights included Jessica Hull setting an Australian 800m record, Mackenzie Little throwing a three metres seasons best in the javelin qualifying rounds and Rose Davies progressing smoothly into the 5000m final. Also of note was Cameron McEntyre become just the second Aussie into the men’s javelin final at a world championships.

Mackenzie Little blasts her way into Javelin final

Arriving in Tokyo with a modest, for her, seasons best of 61.96m, Javelin thrower Mackenzie Little launched her first qualifying round throw out to 65.54m. It was the third longest throw of her career. Later in the qualifying rounds Serbia Adriana Vilagoš surprised with a throw of 66.06m, however Olympic champion, Japan’s Haruka Kitaguchi, did not qualify for the final.

“I'm just so glad it all came together,” said a relieved Mackenzie Litte. “That's just the best feeling. It's been a really tough season actually. All those long days dragging myself to training at the end of a long workday - it's all worth it.”

She also spoke about the disappointment in Paris last year.

“I don't want to say this is unfinished business, but I really feel like I've got more to show and, you know, I've worked really hard actually this year.”

Incredibly, Mackenzie Little works as a fulltime doctor, so has a busy life fitting in all the training and travel for her sport.

“I'm just really lucky. I don't think it would work in a lot of other circumstances, but I just have such a good support crew and I love what I do. I love both of those things so much. I'm very very thankful that my life is the way it is at the moment.

Jessica Hull Part 1 - Hull progressed to semi-final after fall

After just one day rest, Jessica Hull was back on the track in her first ever 800m at a major championship. Competing in the heats, at the 200m mark and lead few, Jess was tripped from behind, falling flat on her face.

Asked if she thought she had any claims to protest, Jess said:

“I was taken from behind, there's nothing I could have done there, so I don't know I'm sure they'll look at it and we'll see but I mean it's a very rude introduction to professional 800 metre running.

“It’s hard to take because I know I'm in really great shape and I was at the front 200m in which is like not really what we anticipated but I was strong and I was ready for it so I hope I get another chance (to run). I'm in PB shape.

“I'll just continue on as though I'm coming back tomorrow night. I'll go through the mixed zone and I'll go and cool down and I'll leave it in the hands of the people that know more about it than I do.”

Before the end of competition, Jess had been added to the next round of the 800s – the semi-finals.

Jessica Hull Part 2 – Australian 800m record

A day after hitting the track in a fall in her heat, Jessica Hull lined up in the 800m semi-final.

Knowing she was more a 1500/3000m and possessing less speed than most of her competitors, she had clear tactics.

“I couldn't get off the start with these women but I knew at the bell I could be there. And then I just had to keep putting the pressure on,” said Jess who followed her plan perfectly.

She crossed the line in third and progresses to the final as the fastest non-automatic qualifier – Australia’s first ever women’s 800m qualifier at the world championships.

She was pleased with her work.

“To give a good showing tonight against the best 800 women in the world, it's a big, big step, and it's gonna help my 15s in the future.”

But the surprise was the time – 1:57.15 smashing the Australian record by 0.52 seconds. She now becomes the first Australian woman to hold the 800m and 1500m records. It was also her 24th Australian record.

Davies delivers in 5000m heats

The rise of Newcastle’s Rose Davies continued with smooth progression to the 5000m final after placing 3rd in her heat in a time of 14:56.83.

“Yeah, I'm stoked. That was my goal, make it to the final and then run my heart out in the final, so half the job's done but I'm excited for Saturday.

Over the last four years, she has made consistent progress at the annual global meet.

2021 Olympics 34th 15:50

2022 Worlds 27th 15:45

2023 Worlds 19th 15:07

2024 Olympics 12th 14:49.67 (final)

2025 World into final (heat time 14:56.83)

History for Cam McEntyre

In good form in the leadup to the world championships with a javelin PB of 82.35m, Cameron McEntyre delivered in the qualifying rounds in Tokyo, with another PB effort of 83.03m, and progression to the final. In Australian Worlds/Olympic men's javelin history, 12 athletes have competed on 26 occasions, but just one athlete (Jarrod Bannister) had qualified for the final, twice (once at both). Now Cameron joins him.

“I’m so stoked,” said Cameron.

“It’s basically a long time coming, a throw like that, and I'm just so happy I could do it tonight.”

After hitting his big throw in round two, he had a nervous wait in round three, that he would not be knocked out of the top-12.

“Round three was probably the most nerve-wracking round I've experienced. Round one throw was a bit average, but I knew I could build on it. And then coming into round two, I just wanted to throw big. As soon as I hit that block, I just knew - you know. The tension and power just transferred nicely into the throw. So as soon as I saw a clean flight, it was just fingers crossed that it landed close to the 84.50m. When I saw it land, I knew it was pretty big in a PB. So yeah, over the moon with it.”

“I'm so happy that I could do it tonight in three throws. Usually I'm a four, five or six round big thrower, so it was nice that I could do it in two. I think that's the first time I've actually thrown a PB or my best in a comp on round two. So I think going in tomorrow is just reset, recover, and do it again in three. Unreal. So stoked.”

Just 24 hours later, Cam was back on the javelin runup in the final, but would only produce a best of 75.65m in the final to finish 12th.

Connor Murphy triple jump

After making the Olympic final in Paris, Connor Murphy was unable to duplicate that result in Tokyo, His leadup form had been excellent, winning the World University Games title with a season’s best leap of 16.77m. In Tokyo, Connor reached a best of 16.58m in round two, but would have required 16.84m to progress to the final.

“Unfortunately, not quite what I wanted. I couldn’t replicate last year. I had confidence going in, I felt better than last year but just couldn't execute today.I know my averages needs to be better. I jumped probably around my average today. Last year I got lucky and jumped above my average this year, not quite so

we know what to do. It's time now to look forward. Have a rest and come back in 2026.”

Carli closes season well

Although not in the mix to qualify for the final, Sarah Carli did make progression from her 400m hurdles heat to place 7th in her semi-final in a time of 55.02 seconds. It was her best time in a major championship or Games.

“I would love to have dipped under that 55. I've never run 54 seconds at a major championship. But that's hurdles for you. I was really happy that we tidied things up today. I executed well.

“The message from Jess Hull was to run fearless. In my heat, I didn't quite go out hard enough. Today I set it up and put myself in the mix and that's all you can do. But I know I fought hard in that last 100m trying to catch them and that's all I can do.”

Sarah recalled that she was back in the stadium where she made her Olympic debut in 2021. After a serious gym accident, she was lucky to be back running at all.

“Last time I ran here, it was six weeks after I got cleared to go back to full running. I've run two seconds faster than I did then. So I'm really grateful to be here and to be running and to be in that shape of my life.”

Days 8 and 9

There are two more days of competition with a few NSW medal prospects including high jumpers Nicola Olyslagers and Eleanor Patterson, joining Jess Hull, Rose Davies and our relay squads.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Rose Davies in the 5000m heats (courtesy of World Athletics)