As the Australian Athletics Championships roll into Perth this week, two of the country’s brightest stars have been showcasing their talents far beyond home soil, embodying the truly international nature of modern track and field. With one pursuing a world record in the United States and the other cashing in on a revolutionary new league in Jamaica, Matt Denny and Jessica Hull are redefining what it means to be elite athletes in a global sport.
Hull’s Global Payday
Jessica Hull, Australia’s Olympic silver medallist and national record holder, is off to a flying start in 2025 with an impressive showing at the inaugural Grand Slam Track meet in Kingston, Jamaica. The brainchild of sprinting legend Michael Johnson, the Grand Slam Track league boasts a staggering US$12.6 million (approx. A$20 million) prize pool, and Hull has wasted no time in making her mark.
After clocking a personal best of 1:58.58 to finish third in the 800m and then taking fourth in the 1500m (4:05.48), Hull secured fourth place overall in the women’s short distance category. That result netted her US$25,000 (A$40,000), a significant pay-day considering in 2023 her total season prizemoney earnings were just over A$50,000. It’s a significant step forward for an athlete in a sport long overshadowed by more commercially lucrative codes.
Hull is the only Australian athlete contracted to the league in its debut season, but her results suggest she won’t be the last. She sees Grand Slam Track as a vital innovation for the sport.
“This is a sustainable pathway and there’s a lot of opportunity that can come if you let the track do the talking.”Jessica Hull talking to Ninemsn prior to the initial Grand Slam Track meet
Despite her international commitments, Hull has returned home this week and will compete in both the 1500m and 5000m at the Australian Championships, continuing to balance domestic pride with global opportunity.
Denny’s Discus Dream
While Hull returns to chase national titles, Matthew Denny is chasing something even bigger: a world record. The 2024 Olympic bronze medallist sent shockwaves through the athletics world with a monstrous 72.07m throw at the Oklahoma Throws Series in the US, becoming the first Australian ever to break the 70-metre barrier in discus.
The performance was not just a personal best, but the fifth-longest throw in history, and a resounding statement of intent. Denny’s new mark demolished his previous national record of 69.96m and places him among an elite group of only four athletes to have thrown further.
“We came here for one reason and that was for the world record,” Denny said.
“It’s really satisfying, but also, the job isn’t done yet.”
With the Oklahoma Throws Series World Invitational on the horizon, Denny will now look to eclipse the world record of 74.35m held by Lithuanian superstar Mykolas Alekna, in the kind of controlled conditions that simply aren’t guaranteed back home in a stadium setting.
“It shows that you don’t need all the fancy stuff, you just need a bit of grit and a bit of determination,” Denny said of his rural roots and training journey.
He also dedicated his historic throw to his late father, saying, “This one was for Dad… it keeps me accountable to just not complain and just get the job done.”
Global Horizons for Aussie Stars
Hull and Denny’s 2025 campaigns underline a critical truth about elite athletics today: success is forged on the world stage. As global leagues like Grand Slam Track offer new financial pathways and specialised international meets, including the indoor circuit, offer optimal competition conditions, Australia’s top athletes are increasingly prioritising overseas opportunities.
And why not? Hull is banking career-best earnings, while Denny is knocking on the door of history. Their achievements are not only personal milestones but symbols of a sport growing beyond borders, driven by athletes bold enough to chase greatness wherever it takes them.
This week, one will take the line in Perth to inspire the next generation, while the other stays abroad to push the limits of human potential. Together, they’re proving that Australian athletics is not just surviving, but is thriving on the world stage.
