Maia Ramsden is having a stellar 2024. She's the NCAA indoor mile champion, back-to-back 1500m outdoor champion and has just graduated from Harvard University. But she has one more box to tick.
The 22-year-old is pushing for Olympic selection, and has 16 days to achieve it.
Last weekend Ramsden defended her 1500m college title in 4:06:62. While she's thrilled with the achievement, the race didn't help her selection chances. The Olympic standard is 4:02:50. She has however come close, running a personal best of 4:02:58 in Los Angeles last month.
Ramsden is hopeful of reaching that mark on Sunday in Canada.
She may only have until the end of the month, but middle distance runner Maia Ramsden is still eyeing a spot on the New Zealand team for Paris. (Source: 1News)
"I'm quite excited about it. It's an opportunity for running fast. Either try and get the standard because I was so close a couple of weeks ago, or just try and get some more points and get up there in the world rankings."
Olympics or not, big things are on the horizon in her running career, and she's set to sign a professional contract.
"I'm just kind of trying to get it all lined up and also balance trying to do a couple of more races, giving the Olympic standard a go."
She won't be the only Kiwi on the start line in Canada this weekend, with Auckland's Kimberley May lining up as well. May, of Providence University, was second to Ramsden in last weekend's NCAA 1500m, a memorable moment for both runners.
"I started screaming and it was just so cool." Ramsden said.
"Four, five years from now when hopefully we'll be making consistent teams together I think it's going to be so special for us to look back on this part of our lives."
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