Pavey sets British record with fifth Games call-up

AFP, LONDON: Evergreen distance runner Jo Pavey will become the first British track athlete to compete in five Olympics after she was selected in the team for Rio on Wednesday.
The 42-year-old, mother of two, will run in the 10,000 metres, having been preferred to 24-year-old Kate Avery, after meeting the qualifying time at the European Championships last week.
Her time, only good enough for fifth spot in the final, was an astonishing 37 seconds faster than her younger rival had managed this year.
“So happy to be selected for my fifth Olympic Games,” tweeted Pavey, whose first Games was Sydney in 2000 but has never medalled.
Pavey will be joined on the plane by stars who know what it is like to win medals at the Olympics including the trio from the ‘Super Saturday’ of London 2012, Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford.
In all, Britain won six medals in the track and field events in London and warmed up for next month’s sporting extravaganza with five golds in a 16-medal haul at last week’s European Championships in Amsterdam.
“I’m very excited by this group of athletes and what I think we can achieve in Rio,” said British Athletics performance director Neil Black.

Pavey sets British record with fifth Games call-up

AFP, LONDON: Evergreen distance runner Jo Pavey will become the first British track athlete to compete in five Olympics after she was selected in the team for Rio on Wednesday. The 42-year-old, mother of two, will run in the 10,000 metres, having been preferred to 24-year-old Kate Avery, after meeting the qualifying time at the European Championships last week. Her time, only good enough for fifth spot in the final, was an astonishing 37 seconds faster than her younger rival had managed this year. So happy to be selected for my fifth Olympic Games, tweeted Pavey, whose first Games was Sydney in 2000 but has never medalled. Pavey will be joined on the plane by stars who know what it is like to win medals at the Olympics including the trio from the Super Saturday of London 2012, Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford. In all, Britain won six medals in the track and field events in London and warmed up for next months sporting extravaganza with five golds in a 16-medal haul at last weeks European Championships in Amsterdam. Im very excited by this group of athletes and what I think we can achieve in Rio, said British Athletics performance director Neil Black.