Just days after their bronze medal win at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia’s middle-distance stars strengthened their hot start to the season at this Maurie Plant Meet, formerly the Melbourne Track Classic, with blistering results across the board.

In the John Landy mile Tokyo Olympian Ollie Hoare was a standout, separating himself from the competition down the back straight to the delight of the raucous crowd to win in a time of 3:52.24. It was the third fastest time by an Australian on home soil.

“This is why I came home," Ollie said. "I want people to be excited about athletics like an event that the best in the world can come and watch. Melbourne, Lakeside Stadium and Athletics Australia have all made it pay off.”

In the same event Aussie Cameron Myers finished third to deliver an age-defying result, breaking a 43-year-old Australian Under 20 record with his time of 3:55.44.

“I mean to come in and do it in a meet like this in front of the biggest crowd you can get at an athletics meet in Australia is pretty unreal,” Cameron said.

Jess Hull and Abbey Caldwell headlined the women’s 1500m, producing an explosive final lap.

Jess broke away with 300m to go, Abbey responded to close the gap but it was Jess who held on for victory in a time of 4:07.11, 0.21 of a second in front of Abbey.

“To have the crowd and to be able to feel [Abbey] pushing me ... it’s pretty incredible,” Jess said.

“Gutsy run from her and I’m excited for some battles in the next few weeks.”

The final member of the Bathurst bronze-medal winning quartet, Stewart McSweyn, fought valiantly in the men's 3000m for a time of 7:44.36, but was bested by 18-year-old Ishmael Kipkurui from Kenya's 7:41.38.

In a tribute to the late Maurie Plant, Stewart competed in the kit from 1997 which Maurie helped design.

“He was enormous for me. When I first got into the Diamond League, I was a bit iffy, but he was able to push for me and get me a start initially.," Stewart said.

“He knew a lot and he was always there for advice. He was one of my greatest mentors and I don’t know if I would’ve achieved a lot of stuff I have in my career without Maurie’s help.”

Tokyo 2020 Olympian Rohan Browning was a crowd favourite, competing in the 200m alongside the fastest man in the world Fred Kerley (USA). Rohan was a touch in front heading into the straight, but Kerley ultimately break through to finish in a time of 20.32 to Rohan's 20.71.

Rohan, back in his element for the last event of the night, won the 100m in a nail-biting photo finish. He pipped New Zealand's Edward Osei-Nketia by 0.01 of a second.

On the field, Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers won the women's high jump in clearing 1.93m.

The rivalry between two long jumping Olympic finallists Brooke Buschkuehl (6.59m) and the USA’s Tara Davis-Woodhall’s (6.69m) became less of a talking point as the competition unfolded, with both of them defeated by 21-year-old Samantha Dale from Queensland's second jump of 6.71m.

The next stop for Australia’s athletics contingent is the Sydney Track Classic, taking place at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday 11 March. Tickets can be found here.