Jo Pavey hampered by flu in Olympic qualifying bid
By Geraint Hughes
Last Updated: 22/05/16 12:42am
Four-time Olympian Jo Pavey faces a battle to represent Team GB at this summer's Games after flu hampered her efforts at the British 10,000m trials.
The European champion will now have until the beginning of July to run the Olympic Qualification 'A' standard if she is to represent Team GB in the 10,000m in Rio.
Pavey, who has been battling a heavy cold for two weeks, made a last-minute call to compete at a meeting in north London that was doubling up as Britain's 10,000m Olympic trials.
However, she failed to finish in the top two and crossed the line one minute and seven seconds outside the Olympic qualification time of 32mins 15secs at the meeting at Parliament Hill, the home of Highgate Harriers.
Pavey, who won her first major title in 2014 at the age of 40 when she took gold at the European Championship in Zurich, must now run under 31mins 41secs if she is to become Team GB's oldest track and field competitor at an Olympics.
The mother of two could yet make the Olympics running the 5000m. She could run in Rome in a few weeks and the British Championships in Birmingham at the end of June.
Pavey crossed the line in 33mins 22secs and was determined to finish even though her coach had urged her to stop as the effects of her flu visibly slowed her.
