Aussie steeplechaser Hills eyes Rio

Madeline Hills is one of eight Australian athletes to compete in Thursday's Diamond League meet in Stockholm.

Encouraged by a season-best performance, steeplechaser Madeline Hills will use Thursday's Diamond League meet in Stockholm to continue her drive towards the Olympics.

Hills is one of eight Australian athletes to line up in Sweden's capital city, five days after she placed fourth in the women's 3000m steeplechase at last week's Diamond League event in Oslo.

Her time of nine minutes 24.73 seconds was her best this season and an ideal competitive comeback from a calf concern that's interrupted the 29-year-old's training since April's national championships.

The injury forced her to run conservatively in Oslo - now she's hoping to push it a bit further.

"It was great for my confidence considering where I'm at, and I'm excited to get back out there again this week," said Hills, who placed fourth at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"It's only June though so it's all about building for the Olympic Games.

"I'm excited about Rio now I've been able to put together three good weeks of training, and I trust I'll keep improving if I continue to be clear of injury."

Hills will be joined in the 3000m steeplechase by Genevieve LaCaze, who ran a personal best of 9:30.52 in Oslo for a sixth-place finish.

Also in action is shot-putter Damien Birkinhead, 1500m runner Jenny Blundell and long jump medal hope Brooke Stratton, who placed second in Lucerne's Spitzen Leichtathletik on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST) but was off her usual mark with a leap of 6.36m.

Reigning Olympic 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson will skip the Stockholm meet, returning to Australia a week early to work on her fitness after struggling in her competitive comeback.

Meanwhile, other Australians are still racing against the clock for a Rio qualifying standard, including NSW products Lora Storey (800m) and Heidi See (1500m).

Both will compete at the Harry Jerome International in Vancouver on Friday (Saturday AEST), while Australian 400m champion Steven Solomon will continue his push at the IAAF World Challenge in Madrid later this month.

In other Lucerne results overnight, Kathryn Mitchell won the women's javelin with a 62.97m throw, while Hamish Peacock threw 80.39m to take out the men's javelin.


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Source: AAP



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