Aussie runner Rose Davies shines on frenetic final lap to book spot in 5000m Olympic final
Updated . First published at
PARIS: Australian Rose Davies was one of 11 runners in the lead pack of her Olympic 5000m heat when the bell sounded, and while the Newcastle product had done well to be in that position on the purple Stade de France track, she knew only eight of those 11 would advance to the final.
Over a frenetic final lap on the first day of track competition, enormous heart and a speedy finishing kick ensured Davies made the cut in northern Paris.
The 24-year-old finished third in her heat in a time of 15:00.86.
READ MORE: Who is Imane Khelif? The boxer facing gender outcry in Paris
READ MORE: At his fourth Olympic Games, McEvoy finally cracks gold
READ MORE: McKeown surges into history books with comeback gold
Fellow Australian Izzi Batt-Doyle led for much of the race, and while the Adelaide runner was one of the 11 women in the lead pack when the bell dinged, she missed out on a spot in the final by 0.75 of a second, finishing ninth in 15:03.64.
In the first of the two 5000m heats, Australia's Lauren Ryan finished 13th in 15:29.35.
Rose Davies of Australia celebrates earning a spot in the women's 5000m final in Paris. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Davies, who contested the 5000m at Tokyo 2020 but didn't reach the final, said the fight for one of eight spots was not at the front of her mind with a lap to go.
"I wasn't really thinking about that; I was just thinking to win, really," Davies told reporters in the media mixed zone.
"I back my kick and I know I have a strong last lap. It's what I've been doing all year and it's no different."
Davies is carving out an exceptional year. In February, she cracked the 15-minute mark in the 5000m for the first time, and she's cracked the barrier another two times since. She clocked 14:41.65 in Tokyo in May to break Jessica Hull's 5000m national record of 14:43.80.
Australia will be represented in an Olympic women's 5000m final for the first time since the Rio 2016 Games, where Eloise Wellings, Genevieve Gregson and Madeline Heiner ran in the final.
Rose Davies and Izzi Batt-Doyle in action at the Stade de France. Hannah Peters/Getty Images
"I just think consistency [is why I've improved so much this year]," said Davies, who's coached by Rio 2016 marathon runner Scott Westcott.
"It's been three years since Tokyo and I've been really consistent in my training and I put it down to that.
"There's nothing really I've changed in training; I've just been more mature."
The first day of athletics competition at the Stade de France also saw Australian teenager Claudia Hollingsworth progress to the semi-finals of the women's 800m. The 19-year-old finished second in her heat in 1:58.77.
Australian teammates Catriona Bisset and Abbey Caldwell didn't earn spots in the semis on Friday morning (AEST), but will get another chance because of the repechage system introduced to Olympic athletics at these Games.
"I couldn't stop moving [on the start line]," Hollingsworth said in the media mixed zone.
"But honestly, it's probably the most relaxed I've been on a start line.
"Craig just said, 'When you're out there, just look up, take a deep breath, don't look at it anymore ... and relax'.
"I felt like that's exactly what I did; I just embraced the environment, and I saw my parents and my sisters and everyone here supporting me.
"Craig yelled at me. As soon as I ran out he just said something like, 'Come on, go get it', and that's all I was thinking. On the start line I was just talking to myself saying, 'Come on, come on, just do it'."
Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event streaming ad free, live and on demand with 4K on Stan Sport.
