Hamilton runner Camille French has impressed in her marathon debut, running under the Olympic qualifying standard at the Valencia marathon, finishing in two hours, 26 minutes and eight seconds.
The 33-year-old is now the second fastest Kiwi woman to run a marathon behind Kimberley Smith. French's time was also the fastest marathon debut by a Kiwi woman.
Speaking from Spain, French told 1News her goal was to run two hours, 26 minutes flat. The Olympic qualifying standard is two hours, 26 minutes and 50 seconds.
"I'm so happy - about 42 seconds under the Olympic qualifier," she said. "I'm really hoping it's enough for Athletics New Zealand and the New Zealand Olympic Committee to select me for next year's Olympic Games."
Although French has run under the Olympic qualifying standard, she has no control on her selection for the Paris Olympics.
"It's my first marathon, I've just had [daughter] Sienna not long ago. I feel like I can go a lot faster. I really hope it's enough for the NZOC to select me and for New Zealand Athletics to take me to Paris. Fingers crossed it's enough."
French, formally a middle distance runner, switched to the marathon after the birth of her daughter last year. She's since joined the Melbourne Track Club, training remotely from Hamilton. She said her training paid off and she was able to execute the race she wanted to run.
"It was quite exciting. You've got to be on the whole time but also relaxed, you've got to take on fuel but not too much. My teammates did really well."
Valencia is a flat course known for its fast marathon times. French was the 27th woman home. Ethiopian woman Worknesh Degefa was first in 2:15:51.
French said she enjoyed the course but admitted the race experience was challenging.
"There were lots of people. I've never run with that many people at the same pace before. There were probably a few hundred people running a similar pace and so it was a matter of getting into a good position, especially to get drinks, and trying to stay relaxed when taking on drinks."
There were positives of racing in a large scale event as well, particularly the support French received.
"There were spectators on course cheering the whole time. Because my bib number had my name on it, people were cheering 'go Camille' and of course my husband was cheering for me so it was really exciting."
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