Australian middle-distance star Cameron Myers has stormed to a superb 1500m victory at the Paris Diamond League meeting to improve his own world-leading time in the process.
The 20-year-old’s dominant display had him cross in 3:28.00 to become his country’s fastest ever man over the distance, surpassing Oliver Hoare’s domestic and Oceania record of 3:29.41 set in 2023.
In doing so, the fastest man in the world this year — who now rises to 12th on the all-time list — saw off the threat of Frenchman Azeddine Habz (3:29.80) and Britain’s 2022 world champion Jake Wightman, who was third in a season’s best of 3:29.95.
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But Myers admits setting a national best is one record he is particularly happy to get under his belt.
“Getting the Australian record means so much because, obviously, Olli (Hoare) and Stewy (McSweyn) were athletes that I looked up to a lot growing up. It’s just mental,” Myers said.
“It’s nice to finally tick it off. I knew I had something good in my legs, so I’m glad I was able to show it.
“Having that exterior pressure on yourself to get a time takes away from the main part of the race, which is winning. It’s going to be huge for me going forward.”
Myers’ statement victory in Paris comes with less than a month until the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where he is set to compete in the mile.
“It obviously gives me confidence. It’s going to be a great field and I’m looking forward to a good battle,” he said.
Another domestic record breaker in Paris was Sarah Billings, who became the fastest Australian woman over 800m, lowering Jessica Hull’s national record of 1:57.15 with a time of 1:57.01 when finishing sixth in a race won by Swiss star Audrey Werro.
“The depth of middle-distance in Australia is insane, so to run an Australian record when all the other girls are flying is just so exciting,” Billings said.
Olympic silver medallist Hull clocked her fastest 1500m of 2026 (3:57.22) for fourth place while Australia’s Olympic pole vault champion Nina Kennedy cleared 4.70m for third.
Meanwhile, reigning 100m Olympic champion Noah Lyles suffered his first defeat of the season when he was upstaged by fellow American Trayvon Bromell, who clocked 9.91 seconds at Stade Charlety.
