Australia's Nicola McDermott wins silver in Tokyo Olympics women's high jump

Nicola McDermott has won silver in the women's high jump, setting a national record of 2.02 metres in the Olympic final in Tokyo.

It is Australia's first medal in the event since Michele Brown also won silver at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

McDermott could not clear 2.04m with her three attempts, the height achieved by gold medallist Mariya Lasitskene of the Russian Olympic Committee team.

Ukrainian Yaroslava Mahuchikh was the bronze medallist with a clearance of 2.00m.

It was Australia's third podium finish of the Tokyo track and field program, following the bronze medals won by Kelsey-Lee Roberts in the women's javelin and Ashley Moloney in the decathlon.

Fellow Australian Eleanor Patterson finished fifth in the high jump final, with a season best of 1.96m her highest clearance.

Earlier in the evening, Stewart McSweyn achieved Australia's best result in the men's 1,500m in 61 years after placing seventh in the final.

His countryman Ollie Hoare finished in 11th place.

McDermott had arrived in Tokyo in career-best form after setting a national record of 2.01m in Stockholm early last month.

She became the first Australian woman to clear two metres earlier in the year and was considered a medal contender heading into the Tokyo competition.