JO Pavey pushed herself to the limit today to ensure she made the final of the women’s Olympic Games 5000m on Friday night.
Just over three days after her lifetime best in finishing seventh in the 10,000m and despite sore calves the Bristol & West AC life member ran her fastest time for two years with 15mins 02.84secs to secure a place in the final as a fastest loser.
“I am so thrilled to make the final and have another opportunity to run in front of this amazing crowd,” said Pavey.
Pavey had to work really hard to get a place as one of the fastest losers in this morning’s race having lost contact with the leading five, who were guaranteed automatic selection, on a fast last lap.
She eventually finished seventh but the second heat was significantly faster than the first and that ensured she went through along with British team-mate Julia Bleasdale, who was fourth just ahead of Pavey.
“I didn’t actually know whether I had got through because I didn’t know the results for the first het,” added Pavey. “I looked around at the scoreboards but couldn’t see anything.
“It is good to run a season’s best because I wasn’t sure how I would go after the 10,000m. You are stepping into the unknown a bit but I gave it my all and the crowd really lifted me on that lap.
“It was another fantastic experience and it will be brilliant have that again in the final on Saturday.”
It was in the 5000m that Pavey had her best ever performance in the Olympic when she finished fourth in Athens eight years ago. Two years later she was also fourth in the 5k at the European Championships.
Her best time for the distance is 14mins 39.96secs which she set six years ago at the Ivo Van Damme Meeting in Brussels. Prior to yesterday her best time this season was 15:09.53 at the Diamond League meeting in Rome and it is four years since she last dipped under 15 minutes.