Canada's Jessica O'Connell ready for challenging debut run at cross-country worlds

A left hip and hamstring issue that took a while to settle after the recent NACAC cross-country championships probably would have been a bigger concern for Jessica O'Connell just a few years ago.

But the Canadian runner's changed approach to training — designed to lessen the frequency of injury — plus the addition of strength coach Kyla Coates and physiotherapist Tyson Plesuk has led to greater success.

"Over the past few years, we've been working to address my weak glutes and pitiful mobility, which has made me quite a bit more powerful, efficient and durable."

Since the spring of 2015, the Canadian runner has experienced a variety of ailments:

• June 2015: Achilles tendinitis requires three to four months of altered training.
• Summer 2016: Foot tendinitis, hip flexor strain, calf strain and IT band problem (connective tissue in the knee) sidelines O'Connell for up to three weeks.
• Dec. 2016: Suffers a concussion that requires two months of altered training after colliding with another athlete during track practice.
• 2018: Hamstring and Achilles tendinitis result in three months of altered training and cut short O'Connell's summer season.

O'Connell, 30, didn't return to full-time training until late last year following the Achilles injury. But after one workout, she committed to the women's indoor 3,000 metres on Feb. 9 at the Millrose Games in New York, where she set the Canadian record in eight minutes, 46.50 seconds.

Eyeing world 5,000 metres

She then helped Canada's senior women to a silver medal, finishing second to Breanna Sieracki of the United States at the NACAC event in Trinidad and Tobago on Feb. 16.

"Running those good 3Ks gives me hope and confidence I'll be able to put out a good 5K this summer," said O'Connell, who will focus on the 5,000 metres during the track season in hopes of meeting the qualifying standard of 15:22 for the world track and field championships in September.

Last June, the Calgarian ran 15:18.36 at the Portland Track Festival but the one-year qualifying window didn't open until Sept. 7.

First, O'Connell will attempt to combat the expected muddy conditions in Denmark against world 5,000 champion Hellen Obiri, her Kenyan teammate and steeplechase world-record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, and two-time world U20 cross-country champion Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia.

'Biggest challenge will be the unknown'

"I find it very difficult, I'm a very timid runner," said O'Connell of running in mud. "I've been doing strides on the grass and seeking out surfaces with adverse footing, in a safe way, to make [my stride] more efficient and become more confident.

"Braving the conditions — Saturday's forecast calls for a temperature of about 12C with 30 km/h winds — and trying to stay focused and in the moment will be challenging. The biggest challenge will be the unknown. The East Africans are so strong and I don't know what it's like to race them in cross-country rather than a track race."

Besides the competition, O'Connell will attempt to negotiate man-made mud, sand and water pits in her five laps on the 2-km loop course.

The Viking Zone is one of half a dozen features that set the race apart from recent world cross-country events while the Runner's Valhalla — a 50x20-metre tent and cheering zone that will feature a DJ — is where fans are encouraged to drink beer and get close to the athletes.

A local group of 30 actors hired earlier this year by Jakob Larsen, director of the Danish Athletic Federation, will have their own miniature village on the course, complete with bonfires and fake weapons.

"When people run through it, they will know that they're in Viking territory," Larsen told LetsRun.com earlier this month.

International Association of Athletics Federations president Sebastian Coe is so excited about the setup that he plans to take part in a 4x2km relay that is just one of several events open to the public on race day.

Leaning on teammates

For about $200, any man who has broken 33 minutes or woman who has run under 37 minutes over 10K within the last 12 months can sign up to run alongside the pros in the championship race, but their times won't count in the individual or team scoring.

Over 580 runners from 67 countries will compete Saturday. Men's and women's races will be contested in the under-20 and senior divisions along with a mixed 4x2km relay.

Winners of the individual men's and women's races will earn $30,000 US, with money paid to the top six finishers in the individual and team events. The top four mixed relay teams will receive money, with the winner handed $12,000.

Canada's roster

Senior women: Katelyn Ayers, Natalia Hawthorn, Gen Lalonde, Jessica O'Connell, Claire Sumner, Natasha Wodak

Senior men: Mike Tate, Ehab El-Sandali, Rory Linkletter, Benjamin Preisner, Yves Sikubwabo, John Gay

Junior women: Makenna Fitzgerald, Anne Forsyth, Brogan MacDougall, Taryn O'Neill, Maggie Smith, Charlotte Wood

Junior men: Evan Burke, Andrew Davies, Joshua DeSouza, Ibrahim Kedir, Nicolas Mota, Maximus Thiessen

Mixed relay (one female listed will not race): Regan Yee, Erica Digby, Lindsay Carson, Kevin Robertson, Justin Kent