5000 metre running - Lucy van Dalen

The 5,000 metre runner, Lucy van Dalen, is racing in several European competitions in an attempt to qualify for the New Zealand athletics team to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games following her appearance in the 1500 metre race in the London Olympics.

Lucy van Dalen. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Van Dalen is new to the 5000 metre distance – she made it through to the semifinals the 1500 metres at her first major championship in London.

She competed in the 3000 at the recent World Indoor championships in Poland and, like Nick Willis running the 5000 as well as his 1500, hopes her faster pace from the 1500 will stand her in good stead in the final lap of the 5000.

Van Dalen was just 1.87 slower than her 2013 best when she ran 15:22.95 in the 5000 in early May at the Payton Jordan meet in Stanford, California. She is the fourth fastest ever New Zealander over 5000 metres and the second fastest over 1500.

Van Dalen studied at New York's Stony Brook University, (receiving academic masters in liberal studies after completing her undergraduate degree in sociology), won the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Indoor Mile championship in 2012 and made two All-American teams.