The next instalment of the friendly rivalry between newly-minted world champ Eleanor Patterson and Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Nicola Olyslagers is just around the corner.

And the high likelihood is that they will claim the top two spots on the high jump podium at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games – although in what order is anyone’s guess.

The two great Australians aside, the top echelon of the women’s high jump is a mostly European affair at the moment.

Nineteen of the top 25 jumpers in the world this year hail from Europe, with six from Commonwealth nations, headed by Patterson, now ranked No.2 on the 2022 list following her national record-equalling effort of 2.02m in the world championships final in Eugene on Tuesday night.

Heading to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games feels like a “completing the full circle” moment for Patterson who first shot to prominence with her gold medal at the 2014 Glasgow Games as a shy teenager.

“It’s wild in so many ways, given that the 2014 Commonwealth Games was my first international team and a breakthrough in so many ways,” said the 26-year-old.

“Then to miss out on the team in 2018 was the catalyst for me stepping away from the sport (for a year).

“To now come full circle and to have had that four-year cycle of ‘I’m here again and I’m in the best shape of my life’.

“I’m overjoyed I can come back to a Commonwealth Games.”

After bowing out of the Eugene competition in a tie for fifth, Olyslagers cheered on Patterson to her dramatic victory.

It was a reversal of last year’s Tokyo Olympics final, when Olyslagers (then known by her maiden name of McDermott) set the Australian record with 2.02m and Patterson finished fifth.

“I just love it that all of Australia can get behind us,” Olyslagers, whose first senior international medal was a bronze at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, said.

“It’s Team Australia.

“I hope to be peaking at the right time.”

The qualifying round of the women’s high jump in Birmingham is on August 4.

Meanwhile, leading Australian middle-distance runner Jessica Hull has been forced to pull out of the women’s 5000m at the world athletics championships after testing positive to COVID-19.

Hull has gone into isolation for five days, having returned the positive test following her seventh-placed finish in the 1500m final on Monday (Tuesday AEST).

She is the first member of the 64-strong Australian team in Eugene to test positive to COVID-19 during the 10-day championships.

As a former University of Oregon Ducks track star, Hull is one of the most high-profile athletes at the world titles.

She is also the current Australian 1500m and 5000m record holder.

Assuming she recovers in time, Hull’s next competition will be the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, where she is among the medal favourites in the 1500m.

The opening round of the 1500m is on August 5.

– AAP