Oliver likes home comforts
The first question you ask Lucy Oliver, after congratulating the 5000m athlete on her second Olympic selection, is what the heck is she still doing in New Zealand?
With the Rio Games just weeks away, most athletes with aspirations of making their mark are ensconced somewhere in the warmer climes of the US or Europe completing preparations.
But, Oliver (nee van Dalen), is not most athletes. She’s a ‘‘home girl’’ who does things her own way, and so far they’re working out all right for this 27-year-old Wanganui-raised, now Aucklandbased athlete.
It’s been a challenging year for the lithe distance runner with achilles problems shackling her through most of the Kiwi summer. That saw her head to the US in May-June in a last-ditch attempt to I've shown I'm in form right now, and that's the main thing post the qualifying needed for Rio.
She did one B standard in Portland, Oregon, when she ran 15min 20.13s to get within a couple of seconds of the A mark, but just missed out on the second mark the selection criteria asks for when she backed it up with a 15:24.06 .06s outside the cutoff point.
That meant her selection (to join Nikki Hamblin in the Rio 5k) had to go into the ‘‘extenuating circumstances’’ category, and after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing on her form and fitness, she had her mark(s) she inclusion rubber-stamped Friday’s final team selection.
‘‘I was a bit nervous but confident at the same time because I feel like I’ve shown I’m in form right now,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s been a rocky road, but it’s an awesome testament to my coach, physio and doctor getting me into good form.’’
And her decision to do the last month’s training in the Kiwi winter (they leave in a fortnight for the Kiwi pre-camp in Germany)?
‘‘To be honest I don’t like being away from my husband (Tim) for too long, and really love being in New Zealand because this is where my support system is,’’ she said.
Oliver is coached by Adrian Blincoe, a Beijing Olympian and national 5000m record-holder. It’s an ideal partnership.
‘‘He’s been such a blessing. He paces me in workouts and he’s been awesome support because he’s been there and done that.’’ for