After a disastrous 1,500 metres final where she fell and finished last, Olympic silver medallist Jess Hull considered pulling the pin on the Australian Athletics Championships in Sydney. 

She withdrew from the 800m and seemed unlikely to contest the 5,000m. 

But one of the biggest stars of this golden generation of Australian athletics channelled Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue, deciding to do it for the kids. 

“There were kids waiting at the call room to see if I was going to go and race, and that just makes me realise it’s so much bigger than you,” Hull said after winning the 5,000m.

“I’m lucky I had the [sunglasses] on because on the first lap when they were just going berserk for me, I was tearing up and I’m like, get it together. So it’s very special.”

Hull and Linden Hall were jostling for the lead in the final lap, until Hull kicked up a gear in the final 200m to easily claim the title in her less preferred event.

It made up in some part for the 1,500m, which ended contentiously as winner Claudia Hollingsworth was initially disqualified, then reinstated.

Runner Jess Hull falls and has arms splayed out in front of her

Hull fell during the closing stages of the 1,500m on Friday night. (AAP: Dean Lewins)

“Emotionally, mentally, we’re all pretty tired and a lot goes into it, there’s a lot of emotion,” Hull said.

“By about 4 o’clock yesterday, I was over it and I was just like you know what 5k, I’m getting out there. 

“I don’t plan to race for another month, so I didn’t want to sit on that for a month and I just wanted to go back through the motions and I’m so glad I did.”

Hull says she is still experiencing the after effects from her fall including whiplash and limited motion, which affected her mindset in the 5k.

“It scared me a bit. There were some moments in that pack that were a bit dicey, and I was putting my hands out when I was going to make a move,” she said.

“I wanted everyone to know where I was going. I didn’t want anyone to just clip me.”

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While being careful not to place any blame on Hollingsworth, Hull was frustrated by the process that saw her rival ultimately handed the 1,500m national crown.

“You just want a fair race. If you get beat fair and square, you can live with that, but when it gets taken out of your hands, it’s a bit hard to shut the door on it and just leave it,” Hull said.

“I think a lot of us would acknowledge it’s a DQ anywhere else in the world, but it isn’t here, and you’ve just got to live with that.

“It is what it is. It’s not to any fault of another athlete.”

Hollingsworth ‘moving on’ from DQ then reinstatement as national champion

Claudia Hollingsworth insists she ran a fair race, and wants to move on from the drama surrounding the women’s 1,500 metres final which saw her disqualified then reinstated, as Jess Hull crashed out.

The 29-year-old also took the opportunity to emphatically shut down reports that emerged last month, suggesting a rift between the star middle-distance runner and Australian Athletics. 

“I have no idea where that’s come from. I am so supported by the high performance unit,” she said.

“I’ve had team camps … the staff are involved. They’re part of my season planning.

“I am so supported by Athletics Australia and I have been my whole career.”

Caldwell, Hollingsworth contest 800m

Abbey Caldwell was another of the athletes caught up in Friday’s drama and lodged a protest alongside Hull’s camp. 

She finished third in the 1,500m, but defended her 800m title and says she blocked out the controversy. 

Caldwell

Abbey Caldwell defended her 800m title. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

“It’s an amazing group of girls, I think we look out for each other on and off the track, and we know it can be competitive, but I think it’s a really good culture,” she said.

“Everyone just wants to focus on racing at the moment, so I think that makes a big difference.”

Hollingsworth finished second, but was included in the first group of athletes officially selected for July’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Celebrating her 21st birthday, she says it’s been a challenging few days.

“Lots of ups and downs, but with the 800 literally the next day, I just had to focus on that and move on pretty quickly,” she said.

“I’m sure I’ll have this week now to reflect on it, but the 800 was my next goal, so I just had to move on and focus on that.”