New national 1500m champion Adam Spencer would love to be selected now for the Olympics but thinks its better for Australia’s three 1500m runners to be picked in June.
Cover image by Casey Sims courtesy of Athletics Australia
Spencer won a classic 1500m on Saturday running a tactically astute race and timing the use of his superior finishing kick perfectly to finish ahead of Australian record holder Olli Hoare, rising talent Jesse Hunt, and Olympic qualifiers Stewart McSweyn and Cameron Myers.
Unlike many Olympic campaigns this year’s Australian Championships are not a selection trial for the Olympics, meaning that Spencer, who already has the Olympic qualifying standard from last European season, is not an automatic selection. However, under the selection criteria he is eligible to be selected at the discretion of the selectors in their first phase of selections (immediately after Nationals) rather than waiting until the end of the qualifying period.
All of the other countries pick their team a couple of weeks before and the guys who are running well then are the guys you should really pick.Adam Spencer
“It’s all a bit up in the air,” said 22-year-old Spencer post race.
“Honestly, the selfish part of me would love to be picked but I don’t think its in Athletics Australia’s best interest to pick the team in April when the Olympics is in July.
“It’s such a long way out and so much can happen between now and then.
“Of course, I would love to be picked now, it would be great. But all of the other countries pick their team a couple of weeks before and the guys who are running well then are the guys you should really pick.”
Australia can select three athletes in the event and there will likely be at least six who are eligible at the end of the selection period, based on a combination of either reaching the qualifying standard of 3:33.50 or being within a quota position based on world rankings. Currently Spencer, McSweyn and Myers have the qualifying standard while Jesse Hunt and Jack Anstey (sixth yesterday) would be confident of a quota place if they don’t otherwise better the standard. National record holder Olli Hoare raced at the nationals for the first time since last year and would be likely to run the qualifying standard in upcoming international races.
