King Island's Stewart McSweyn sets pace for Paris Olympics

King Island’s Stewart McSweyn finished fifth in the men’s Emsley Carr Mile in London on Saturday, breaking the 3:50 barrier with a time of 3:49.59.

The first five finishers were separated by just 0.56 seconds.

Australia’s Ollie Hoare clinched the win in the Emsley Carr Mile with a season best time of 3:49.03 holding off Narve Gilje Nordas from Norway by 0.03 seconds in a photo finish. 

It was an Aussie battle between Hoare and McSweyn for most of the race, and McSweyn led from the front. 

Hoare, with 300 metres to go, made his move and gave it his all in the last 50 metres for his first Diamond League win in four years. 

Adel Mechal from Spain took third place with 3:49.21. 

King Island’s McSweyn finished fifth with 3:49.59.

The Emsley Carr Mile was part of the Wanda Diamond League athletics event in London and offered a glimpse into what's in store for Paris.

With the Olympics on the horizon, performing in front of a capacity crowd in London was the final testing before the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris.