After breaking the Oceania and Australian record for Athletics Australia in the semis in 3:58:81 seconds, Hull ran 11th in the Olympic 1500m final in 4:02 after being brave enough to chase a field going at a 3:50 pace.
The performance caps a remarkable season for Hull which has seen her break the Australian records at 1500m, 3000m and 5000m as well as reclaiming the Aussie record from fellow finalist Linden Hall.
BSAC president Colin Whitbread said Hull was ranked 17th in the world going into the final so finishing 11th was a fantastic achievement.
“She was remarkable and the first Australian woman in history to run 3:58 in an Olympics,” he said.
Patterson became Bankstown’s second Olympic finalist in the Tokyo Games after clearing the 1.95m automatic high jump qualifying standard.
Finishing fifth, Patterson jumped 1.96m in the final with BSAC president Colin Whitbread full of praise.
“Eleanor was new to our club this year but has already made us very, very proud,” he said.
BSAC’s other two Olympic contenders were 1500m Australian champion Jye Edwards and newly minted Australian 3,000m Steeplechase bronze-medallist Edward Trippas.
Sadly for Edwards, a Spanish runner barrelled into him in the semi qualifier.
“It was such bad luck to be knocked over as he would have certainly qualified,” Whitbread said.
“Trippas didn’t qualify for the final but he’s only 23 and has a big future ahead of him as do they all.
“We had five Olympians at London but this is the best Bankstown has ever done; it’s unbelievable.”
