Ollie Bows Out of 1500m

In the Men’s 1500m Stewart McSweyn, Ollie Hoare and Adam Spencer were unable to take advantage of the new repechage round to progress to the semi-finals. Only the top-three would progress and despite valiant efforts the Australians couldn’t go the distance.

Stewart took the lead with three laps to run and tried to stretch out the field but as the bell was ringing for the final lap he was being passed. He tried to respond and couldn’t, finishing 12th with a time of 3:37.49.

“I thought I had the ability to hopefully get that Final and see what happens,” Stewart said. 

“It’s disappointing to have a shorter championship over 1500.

“Our three boys went in with big goals, so it’s disappointing not to achieve them.”

In repechage heat 2, Ollie also pushed hard at the front. The pace was quicker than the earlier repechage, Ollie with a runner to follow, sitting in 2nd for most of the race. 

Sitting sixth, Adam was well positioned and as the pace gathered in the run to homem Ollie took the lead with 200m, running hard but passed at the top of the straight. He placed fifth in 3:34.00 and Adam in sixth with a season’s best of 3:34.45. 

“I just don’t feel like I was prepared these Olympics,” Ollie said.

“I think looking at my racing and the mental side of it, I just don’t think I was prepared and that’s what you get when you’re not prepared.”

Adam was optimistic after his Olympic debut.

“I was pretty happy with how I raced tactically,” Adam said. “I was sitting in a good position, probably about fifth away – striking position for the top three, but I just didn’t have the legs in the last 300.”

Article courtesy of the AOC