Kiwi runner Maia Ramsden has excelled on the indoor athletics track in the past week, placing 10th in the 1500 metres at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Scotland, and then winning the NCAA Mile in Boston.
The Kiwi is working towards qualification for the Paris Olympics while juggling her final months at Harvard University, studying history and literature.
"The Olympics is in the mind, probably too much," said Ramsden.
The 21-year-old broke the meet record in the mile at the top US college division indoor track event. It was made even more special, her time of 4:25:13 watched by her dad in the stands.
"He hasn't seen me race in person in quite a few years so that was definitely a big part of it. When my coach told me to go and make the move I just made the move and we were practicing being quite decisive."
The Boston win came just one week after representing New Zealand at the World Indoors in Glasgow, with Ramsden coming 10th in that 1500 metre final.
"That is the dream right, to represent your country on the world stage. In so many ways it was just the most amazing experience and confirmed everything I was excited about."
Ramsden's come into her own over the past year, also winning the NCAA outdoor 1500m last June. It's now a race against the clock for Paris, needing to shave four seconds off her time, or qualify on world ranking points.
"It seems like a lot but also bigger jumps have been made in the last couple of years. My coach thinks it's doable."
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