The 21-year-old from Melbourne was not even locked in for the Diamond League until about 5.30pm the day before.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:<\/strong> Debate explodes as 'smirking' Aussies retain Ashes\ufeff<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Piastri shines in Hungary as Ricciardo makes comeback\ufeff<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Titmus shatters world record to reclaim freestyle title\ufeff<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Australian Commonwealth Games gold medallist Oliver Hoare withdrew because of a pelvic issue, prompting Australian coach and agent Nic Bideau to pick up his phone and buzz Spencer who, conveniently, was already in London.<\/p>\n Spencer, who has a year remaining at US college Wisconsin\ufeff, featured in a scorching race that saw 12 of the entrants dip under three minutes and 32 seconds.<\/p>\n He finished 12th in the time of 3:31.81, decimating his personal best of \ufeff3:36.78 and catapulting himself into contention for the world championships, beginning on August 19, as well as the Paris Olympics.<\/p>\n He also shot into fourth on the all-time Australian men's 1500-metre list.\ufeff<\/p>\n "I'm feeling pretty unreal. Can't really believe that it's happened," Spencer told Wide World of Sports.<\/p>\n "I think I knew it was coming. I've been a bit unlucky in some of the races. I ran a 3:37 in April and got clipped with a lap to go, ran 3:36 a few weeks ago\ufeff and it was pretty windy conditions with choppy pacing. I knew a PB was coming, but I didn't think it was going to be that big."<\/p>\n Spencer has carved out a series of breakthrough results this year, running personal bests in the\ufeff 800 metres, 1500 metres, outdoor mile and indoor mile.<\/p>\n "It's all coming together at the moment," he said.<\/p>\n "It's been a good year so far and hopefully I keep going.<\/p>\n "\ufeffIf selected I will 100 per cent do it (the world championships). That's been on my mind for a while now. Still got to wait to be selected, but at this stage it's looking pretty good."<\/p>\n Spencer was, and still is, entered in a British Milers Club race scheduled for Wednesday \u2014 and tackling two middle-distance \ufeffraces in the space of four days is a tough ask.<\/p>\n But he had no hesitation when a Diamond League carrot was dangled before his eyes.<\/p>\n "I got that phone call and thought, 'I can't miss this opportunity; it's something I may not get again'," Spencer said.<\/p>\n "So I had a crack and went for it\ufeff."<\/p>\n Fellow Australian Stewart McSweyn, a 2021 Tokyo Olympics finalist, finished sixth in the same race\ufeff, clocking 3:31.42. The Tasmanian had already run a world championships qualifier, but met the Paris 2024 entry standard for the first time at the London Diamond League.<\/p>\n Australia's Catriona Bisset \ufeffproduced an exceptional result in the women's 800 metres, breaking her own national record as she posted a 1:57.78 for fourth place. The \ufeff29-year-old had already run a world championships qualifier, but chalked up her first Paris Olympics qualifier in the London race.<\/p>\n Australian cult hero Matt Denny finished second in the men's discus, recording 66.77 metres\ufeff. He's still searching for his first Paris 2024 qualifier but has already been selected for the world championships.<\/p>\n Australian golden girl Nina Kennedy was impressive in the women's pole vault, registering 4.71 metres for fourth place and securing her first Paris 2024 qualifier. She's eligible to contest the world championships as a wildcard, having won last year's women's Diamond League pole vault title.<\/p>\n Australian long jumper \ufeffBrooke Buschkuehl, who's already earned selection for the world championships, continued her build-up for the Budapest major with a jump of 6.72 metres, finishing second.<\/p>\n Competing for the first time since May 21, Australian Joel Baden finished\ufeff ninth in the men's high jump with a jump of 2.16 metres. The 2016 Olympian has already nailed the world championships entry standard and is now gunning for the Paris 2024 benchmark.<\/p>\n In the women's 4x100m relay at the London Diamond League, an Australian team consisting of \ufeffEbony Lane, Bree Masters, Kristie Edwards and Ella Connolly finished fifth in the time of 43.46.<\/p>\n And in the men's 4x100m relay, an Australian team made up of \ufeffLachlan Kennedy, Jacob Despard, Christopher Ius and Jake Penny stopped the clock at 38.62 for sixth place.<\/p>\n The Diamond League season will continue in Zurich on August 31, following the completion of the world championships.\ufeff<\/p>\n For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by<\/strong><\/em> clicking here<\/strong><\/em><\/a>!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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