Jo Pavey
Encyclopedia
Joanne Pavey (born 20 September, 1973 in Honiton
, Devon
) is a track and field
athlete, competing internationally for Great Britain
. She competes mainly in the 5000 metres
distance but also on 1500 metres
, 3000 metres
and (since 2007) 10,000 metres events, and road racing
. In 2006 she won silver in the 5000 m in the Commonwealth Games
. On 20 May 2007, she won the 10 km Great Manchester Run
, a feat she repeated the following year.
As a senior athlete she is now coached by her husband and manager Gavin Pavey.
A three-time national champion in the women's 5000 m
, she is currently second on the British all time list for 5000 m with a time of 14 minutes 39.96 seconds, behind the record holder Paula Radcliffe
. She is also tenth on the British all time list for 1500 m, and fourth for the 3000 m.
Jo Pavey set the national record for 3000 m indoors in February 2004 in Birmingham, England and broke her own record in January 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany. The year of 2004 was a vintage year during which she won a European Bronze medal in the European Cross Country Championships
, a fifth place over 5000 m in the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
and a national indoor record over 3000 m. In 2005 and 2006 she was Europe's fastest 5000 m runner. She has won the National Championships at 5000 m on four occasions (2001, 2006, 2007, 2008) and in 2007 and 2008 she won both the 5000 m and the 10,000 m.
She has doubled up at various championships including a ninth place in the 5000 m following her fourth place in the 10,000 m in the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
. However, in the 2004 Olympic Games she ran a 5000 m semifinal at midnight and then a late-night 5000m final (5th place) and followed this punishing schedule by attempting to run the 1500 m heats the following day. She did not progress beyond the 1500 m heats.
During 2003 she finished fourth in the 1500 m and third in the 3000 m at the World Athletics Final in Monaco. In cup events she has won two European Cup
titles and representing Europe she was third in the 2002 IAAF World Cup
over 5000 m.
She managed to finish fourth in the 10000 m at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
, behind Tirunesh Dibaba
. She qualified to compete in the 5000 m and 10000 m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She did not start in the 5000 m but finished twelfth in the 10000 m event, setting a personal best time of 31:12.30.
At the beginning of the 2009 athletics season, Pavey revealed that she was pregnant and, as a result, she would miss both the 2009 London Marathon and 2009 World Championships
. Jo and her husband Gavin Pavey, had their first child, Jacob Matthew Pavey. He arrived nine days ahead of the original birth date, weighing just 5lb 9oz.
She returned to competition in April 2010, finishing second to Freya Murray
at the Great Ireland Run
, but she was not disappointed and said she was very pleased with a strong return race after her year out. Her marathon debut at the London Marathon in April led to her 19th place finish in 2:28:23, fast enough to qualify for the British Olympic Team in 2012.
2004 Athens Olympics
2000 Sydney Olympics
Honiton
Honiton is a town and civil parish in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, north east of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways, and , each pronunciation having its adherents...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
) is a track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
athlete, competing internationally for Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She competes mainly in the 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
distance but also on 1500 metres
1500 metres
The 1,500-metre run is the premier middle distance track event.Aerobic endurance is the biggest factor contributing to success in the 1500 metres but the athlete also requires significant sprint speed.In modern times, the 1,500-metre run has been run at a pace faster than the average person could...
, 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
and (since 2007) 10,000 metres events, and road racing
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
. In 2006 she won silver in the 5000 m in the Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
. On 20 May 2007, she won the 10 km Great Manchester Run
Great Manchester Run
The Bupa Great Manchester Run is an annual 10 kilometre run through the streets in Manchester city centre, which was established in 2003. Usually held in mid-May, it is among the largest and most prestigious mass participation runs in the United Kingdom...
, a feat she repeated the following year.
As a senior athlete she is now coached by her husband and manager Gavin Pavey.
Early career
Since 1987 Jo Pavey (née Davis) has been a member of Exeter Harriers Athletics Club in Devon, England. In March 1988 she started to be coached by the middle distance coach Tony White. In July 1988 she won the English Schools 1500 m title in a new British record (under 15). She then won the national (AAA) 800 m and 1500 m titles, a feat she repeated in 1990.A three-time national champion in the women's 5000 m
National champions 5000 metres (women)
Below a list of all National champions in the Women's 5000 metres in track and field from several countries since 1980. In most countries however the event was contested for the first time in 1995...
, she is currently second on the British all time list for 5000 m with a time of 14 minutes 39.96 seconds, behind the record holder Paula Radcliffe
Paula Radcliffe
Paula Jane Radcliffe, MBE is an English long-distance runner. She is the current women's world record holder in the marathon with her time of 2:15:25 hours...
. She is also tenth on the British all time list for 1500 m, and fourth for the 3000 m.
Jo Pavey set the national record for 3000 m indoors in February 2004 in Birmingham, England and broke her own record in January 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany. The year of 2004 was a vintage year during which she won a European Bronze medal in the European Cross Country Championships
European Cross Country Championships
The European Cross Country Championships is an annual international cross country running competition. Organised by the European Athletic Association, it is the area championships for the region and is held in December each year...
, a fifth place over 5000 m in the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and a national indoor record over 3000 m. In 2005 and 2006 she was Europe's fastest 5000 m runner. She has won the National Championships at 5000 m on four occasions (2001, 2006, 2007, 2008) and in 2007 and 2008 she won both the 5000 m and the 10,000 m.
She has doubled up at various championships including a ninth place in the 5000 m following her fourth place in the 10,000 m in the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
. However, in the 2004 Olympic Games she ran a 5000 m semifinal at midnight and then a late-night 5000m final (5th place) and followed this punishing schedule by attempting to run the 1500 m heats the following day. She did not progress beyond the 1500 m heats.
During 2003 she finished fourth in the 1500 m and third in the 3000 m at the World Athletics Final in Monaco. In cup events she has won two European Cup
European Cup (athletics)
The European Cup is a now defunct athletics competition, replaced by the European Team Championships from 2009 onwards. The Europa Cup saw most of the major nations of Europe compete. Originally known as the Bruno Zauli Cup, it first took place in Stuttgart and Kassel , Germany in 1965...
titles and representing Europe she was third in the 2002 IAAF World Cup
2002 IAAF World Cup
The 9th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event sponsored by the International Association of Athletics Federations. It was hosted by Madrid, September 21–22, 2002, in the Estadio La Peineta...
over 5000 m.
Track and road running
Most of her career has been as a track runner but since 2006 she has been making a gradual move to road running. She has announced her intention to run in the 2012 Olympic Games in London in the marathon. After illness ruled her out of the 5000 m and led to a disappointing 12th place in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, she immediately announced her intentions of continuing her career until 2012 and a potential move up in distance to the marathon. Her road running career major race wins have included the Great South Run (2006) and the Great Manchester Run (2007, 2008). She also finished 3rd (winner Gete Wami, Ethiopia) in the Great North Run (2008) in the closest finishes the event has seen with two seconds covering the first three athletes.She managed to finish fourth in the 10000 m at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
, behind Tirunesh Dibaba
Tirunesh Dibaba
Tirunesh Dibaba also known as Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene is an Ethiopian long distance track athlete and the outdoor 5000 metres world record holder. She is the current Olympic 5000 metres and 10,000 metres champion...
. She qualified to compete in the 5000 m and 10000 m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She did not start in the 5000 m but finished twelfth in the 10000 m event, setting a personal best time of 31:12.30.
At the beginning of the 2009 athletics season, Pavey revealed that she was pregnant and, as a result, she would miss both the 2009 London Marathon and 2009 World Championships
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
. Jo and her husband Gavin Pavey, had their first child, Jacob Matthew Pavey. He arrived nine days ahead of the original birth date, weighing just 5lb 9oz.
She returned to competition in April 2010, finishing second to Freya Murray
Freya Murray
Freya Murray is a Scottish long-distance runner who competes in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres, as well as cross country running. Murray represented Scotland in the 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres in the 2010 Commonwealth Games. in Delhi in October 2010...
at the Great Ireland Run
Great Ireland Run
The Great Ireland Run is an annual 10-kilometre road running competition which is held in Phoenix Park, Dublin, Ireland in mid-April. It is part of the Great Run series of athletics competitions and it also holds IAAF Bronze Label Road Race status...
, but she was not disappointed and said she was very pleased with a strong return race after her year out. Her marathon debut at the London Marathon in April led to her 19th place finish in 2:28:23, fast enough to qualify for the British Olympic Team in 2012.
Olympics
2008 Beijing Olympics2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
- 5000 m: Did not start
- 10000 m: 31:12.30 Personal best (12th place)
2004 Athens Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
- 1500 m: Round 1 4:12.50 (did not advance)
- 5000 m: Round 1 14:55.45, Final 14:57.87 (5th place)
2000 Sydney Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
- 5000 mAthletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Women's 5000 metresThe Women's 5000 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics programme was held at Stadium Australia on Friday 22 September, and Sunday September 25, 2000....
: Round 1 15:08.82, Final 14:58.27 (12th place)
Other events
- 2011 London Marathon2011 London MarathonThe 2011 London Marathon took place on Sunday, 17 April 2011. The men's elite race saw Emmanuel Mutai win in a course record time to become the fourth fastest ever over the distance. Runner-up Martin Lel sprinted to the line to beat Patrick Makau, completing a Kenyan sweep of the podium...
- nineteenth place - 2007 World Championships in Athletics2007 World Championships in AthleticsThe 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
- fourth place (10000 m) - 2006 European Championships in Athletics2006 European Championships in AthleticsThe 19th European Athletics Championships were held in Gothenburg, Sweden, between 7 August and 13 August 2006. The competition arena was the Ullevi Stadium and the official motto "Catch the Spirit"...
- fourth place - 2006 Great South RunGreat South RunThe Bupa Great South Run is an annual 10 miles road running race which takes place in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Launched in 1990, it is part of the Great Run series created by former British athlete Brendan Foster...
- first place (10 miles) - 2006 Commonwealth Games2006 Commonwealth GamesThe 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
- silver medal - 2004 IAAF World Indoor Championships2004 IAAF World Indoor ChampionshipsThe 10th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations were held in the Budapest Arena, Hungary between March 5 and March 7, 2004...
- fifth place (3000 m) - 2004 Olympic Games - fifth place
- 2003 IAAF World Athletics Final2003 IAAF World Athletics FinalThe 1st IAAF World Athletics Final was held at the Stade Louis II, in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 13 September and 14 September 2003.The hammer throw event for men and women had to take place in Szombathely, Hungary a week previous as the Monaco stadium was not large enough to hold the event.One of the...
- third place (3000 m)