Pan Ams Profile: Jessica O’Connell

Leading up the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto, we’re interviewing athletes who will likely be racing at July event.

Currently on a European racing tour, we caught up with Jessica O’Connell of Calgary, who holds the fastest 5,000m time in Canada right now, to talk about how she’s getting ready for the Games and her thoughts on racing at home.

Canadian Running: You’re in Oslo racing this afternoon?

Jessica O’Connell: Yeah, I’m trying to kill time! I’ve done my nails, hanging out around the hotel. But yeah, I’m in Oslo!

I started in Vienna and did a road race which was kind of the reason I came over. I got an email from the road race director asking if I would race and I thought probably not because it’s kind of far. Then my coach realized we could kind of make this into an entire tour. So, I was there and then went to Germany for a week and stayed with an old teammate and now I’m in Oslo for a 5K tonight. Tomorrow I go to Rabat.

CR: Has it been going well?

JO: Yeah, it’s cool. I ran a 5K in Vienna and it went really well. Way better than I was expecting, so that’s good. I won the race and got a new road PB so that was pretty nice, a little rust-buster. My training’s been going well.

CR: Tonight you race in Oslo with a pretty strong field of athletes.

JO: Yes, it’s really cool! It’s always cool when [Genzebe] Dibaba is in your race because I get so starstruck by her, everyone is. It looks like a good race in that it’s more spread out than some of the Diamond League meets.

CR: When you finish the trip, what fills the time between now and Pan Ams?

JO: Recovering from this trip. I’ve never done two back-to-back long races before, the 5,000m and then the 3,000m. The point in doing that is to simulate worlds heats and finals so I think that will take a few days to recover from. Then I get back into some normal training with my group in Calgary. I’m so happy nationals are in Edmonton because its an easy trip.

CR: What does it mean to be representing Canada at home in Canada?

JO: I’m so excited! I think it’s awesome Pan Ams are on Canadian soil. Canada’s doing such a good job promoting the Games and promoting sport, not just on the track but in all kinds of sports, because everyone knows athletes are working towards Pan Ams.

I think the Games themselves will be awesome because everybody’s heard of them. All my friends are asking “Are you going to Pan Ams? Are you going to Pan Ams? How can we watch you?” Just raising awareness of track and of amateur sport in Canada is so wicked. I think they’re going to be really fun.

CR: I guess beyond racing, you were in a masters program at Calgary last time we talked to you?

JO: Yup, I’m hopefully finishing up, writing my thesis now and hopefully done in the next couple of months, which I may have said last time we talked but I’m serious this time! I’ve also been doing some part-time work on a couple of research projects.

CR: Anything else?

JO: I’m just excited. I think it’s going to be really fun and a good opportunity. I’m so glad they’re sending a full team because it’s something for everyone to strive towards and work towards.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.