Bruce McAvaney described the race as being like “dodgem cars” as Italian Marta Zenoni barrelled her way through the field, leading to her eventual disqualification.<\/p>\n
Despite being desperately close to the action up the front of the pack, Hull was as calm as if she were taking a walk down to the local shops.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jess Hull was lucky to avoid falling in a chaotic semifinal. (Getty Images: Julian Finney)<\/p>\n
Part of that comes down to experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Wollongong-born 28-year-old, in her fourth world championships, is now of a veteran of these types of races at the highest level.<\/p>\n
That experience, plus the respect she has earned in the field as the 2,000m world record holder and Olympic silver medallist, is paying off.<\/p>\n
“I think I’m noticing I have a lot of control in these fields,” she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“Nobody’s really pushing me around.<\/p>\n
“Like, yes, there’s jostling in the pack, but I feel like I’m getting a lot of respect from my competitors.<\/p>\n
“I did notice a little last night and tonight that I am a little bit more shepherded in a way. I think I often can predict the person that’s going to sit behind me because I have proven to be such a good tactician that I might be the fair ticket to the next round.”<\/p>\n
That may be true. But despite the chaos, Hull remain an island of calm.<\/p>\n
During the race, at no point did her facial expression change.<\/p>\n
The ultra-focused stare was unbroken until the second she crossed the line. Then, her broad grin made a welcome return as she hugged her rivals, with any enmity of the preceding four minutes or so immediately forgiven as they basked in their success.<\/p>\n
“Often, in physical races like that, I don’t feel the bumps and and pushing and shoving as much as like it probably looks like I do,” Hull told ABC Sport.<\/p>\n
“I’m pretty robust and durable. I think with experience you become a bit more conscious that it’s going to be pushy.<\/p>\n
“We’re all trying to run for the same position, especially when there’s spots in the final on the line, you have women who know that tonight is their final and they run it like it’s everything for them.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jess Hull is happy laughing with rivals, confident in her own ability. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)<\/p>\n
That is not the case for Hull.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She is an experienced campaigner, with a glittering medal collection that is only lacking a major world title.<\/p>\n
That’s the target. And Hull is remaining focused on that goal.<\/p>\n
“I think winning is definitely on my mind,” Hull said.<\/p>\n
“It’s kind of the inevitable thought once you’ve won a silver medal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I definitely want to set myself up to have a chance.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know what that looks like just yet, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot.<\/p>\n
“Faith [Kipyegon] is the biggest rival to that, but there’s also a lot of great women in that final, so that if I miss, if I slip up, even just getting a medal is going to be hard.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“It’s very much about me just putting the best 1,500m I can together and hoping that it’s going to pave the way for the next generation of middle distance runners. Like, we can win medals in this event.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Faith Kipyegon (right) dominated the first semifinal. (Getty Images: Christian Petersen)<\/p>\n
Not that Hull is being over-confident.<\/p>\n
Given Kipyegon’s record, any sign of overconfidence is likely to end up looking like hubris.<\/p>\n
The world record holder, Kipyegon is also the three-time defending Olympic 1,500m champion and has won three of the last four world titles in this event to boot.<\/p>\n