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Aussie Ollie Hoare wins staggering Comm Games gold: 'Stuff of legends'

Australia's Ollie Hoare set a new Commonwealth Games record after claiming gold in the men's 1500m in Birmingham. Pic: Getty/Ch7
Australia's Ollie Hoare set a new Commonwealth Games record after claiming gold in the men's 1500m in Birmingham. Pic: Getty/Ch7

Australian middle distance runner Ollie Hoare is being hailed around the country after clinching a stunning piece of history by claiming Commonwealth Games gold in the men's 1500m.

Hoare joined the legendary Herb Elliott as the only Australians to win the Commonwealth 1500m or mile title with one of the greatest runs in the nation's track history.

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The 25-year-old stripped more than two and a half seconds off his personal best to set a new Games record with a winning time of 3:30.13.

Hoare dug deep in the final stretch before lunging across the finish line to edge out flagging 2019 world champ Timothy Cheruiyot from Kenya by nine hundredths of a second.

Reigning world champ Jake Wightman from Scotland was third as the first seven runners across the line broke the Games record.

Calling the astonishing scenes on Channel Seven's coverage, Bruce McAvaney described Hoare's victory as the "stuff of legends".

“It’s an extraordinary moment in Australian sport. It’s one of those that we will etch in the history books forever and how lucky we are to have been here and for you to have watched it,” Bruce McAvaney said as Hoare crossed the finish line before slumping to the track in disbelief.

“The last 100m is the stuff of legends," McAvaney added.

Co-commentator and Aussie track legend Tamsyn Manou added: “Take your hat off, that was just brilliant and a new Games record.

“He has just beat a sensational field. He waited until the exit route, got out and that finish was brilliant.”

“He takes down two world champions in the home stretch, it’s just magical. It’s what you dream about,” McAvaney added.

"Not many Australians have been able to achieve medals (in the 1500m), let alone win it, so it's an absolute privilege," Hoare said after the race.

"We went out quick straight away, (Kenyan) Abel Kipsang took it out and strung it out and it was a very fast race - but I've been training for a fast race.

"It was a matter of pulling the kick at the right time.

"I went through on the inside with a lap to go and I saw Jake next to me and started to panic because he's the world champion.

"You can hear the Scottish roar in the stadium so I tried to hold my composure."

Pictured left to right, 1500m medallists Timothy Cheruiyot, Ollie Hoare and Jake Wightman at the Commonwealth Games.
Australian 1500m gold medallist Ollie Hoare (middle) poses with silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot and bronze medallist Jake Wightman at the Commonwealth Games. Pic: Getty (Michael Steele via Getty Images)

An emotional Hoare said afterwards that he dedicated the victory to his late grandfather, who served for Australia in World War II.

“I’d like to dedicate that race to my pop he was a life member at Southern Districts athletics club and he was a World War 2 veteran, Sargaent Fred Hoare.

“He passed away just after the World Champs and it was a very difficult time for me because of how bad I’d just raced and to hear that news of a guy who would have a stopwatch at every race when I was growing up going through the sport, to not have him there to watch was tough but I’d like to dedicate that race to my pop because he is the reason why my family loves this sport and the reason why I am here today.

“So Pop, I know you’re watching. I’ll have a glass of red for ya mate. That was a good one.”

It was a remarkable turnaround for Hoare, who only two weeks ago failed to earn a place in the final at the world championships.

The incomparable Elliott won the mile at the 1958 Games in Cardiff before the switch to metric distances.

with AAP

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