We catch up With England’s 800m champion targeting a World Under-20 1500m podium this month after a breakout summer.
Ava Lloyd was reminded of the caliber of her training partners as she watched Keely Hodgkinson and Georgia Bell secure European medals on TV in Rome. (Since this article was written, they have also won Olympic medals in Paris.)
However, recently running in the U20 World Championships 1500m (4:15.00), the Wigan and District athlete, who turned 19 on August 13, is beginning to make her own mark on the world of athletics. Lloyd ran 4:12.07 at the Watford BMC Grand Prix in Juneshaving six seconds off his personal best and cementing himself as one of Britain’s rising stars. He was previously 10th at the European Under-20 Championships in Jerusalem in 4:23.78, a mark he has now surpassed.
Lloyd has also run 2:03.56 for the 800m this season, and his success has been boosted by training with middle distance coach Trevor Painter and his wife, Jenny Meadows, a two-time World Championships bronze medallist. This year, Lloyd has traveled to various training camps alongside top athletes such as Hodgkinson, Erin Wallace and Sarah Healy.
After admitting that he is now looking forward to the races instead of worrying about times, he is aiming to be “dangerous” at the age-group world championships in Lima from August 27-31.
Ava Lloyd (David Laws)
How did you first get into athletics?
It wasn’t until Year 7 that I ran a cross country race and won and beat all the boys. My mom did track and field when she was younger and she trained with Trevor, so she knew exactly who to call. He asked if I could join for one session at the weekend and then I slowly became more attached to the group.
How did it feel to run a sub-six second 1500m PB at Watford?
I honestly had no idea what pace I was running the whole race, I was more focused on getting up the field. When I crossed the line and saw the time, I felt a little relieved because I knew it was coming in training. It was so disappointing not to get a time like that in my first two races of the season.
I expected to go through to the U20 world qualifiers, but I didn’t expect to go this far. Last year for the European Under-20 Championship I was so worried about selection and I was so focused on my time, whereas this year I’m much more calm and relaxed. I’m really excited to start racing and I’m not too focused on the times.
What will it mean to go to the U20 World Cup?
I now realize that not only can I have the opportunity to compete at the U20 World Championships, but I will have the opportunity to be very competitive there. That’s something I missed last year at Europeans. I don’t want to just go and be happy that it worked out. I want to go and be competitive and dangerous.
Sarah Calvert, Ava Lloyd and Jayla Hancock-Cameron (David Laws)
How is your relationship with Trevor and Jenny?
They are so supportive and they are a real team. They deal with the emotional and mental aspects while also handling the statistical learning side. Getting the coaching side from Trevor and Jenny, who has obviously been through it as an athlete, helps the whole experience.
What’s it like training with such a successful group?
When everyone is there, there is no atmosphere like it and it feels like family. I might not connect with the girls as much as I would like, or I might be quite behind, but then I have to look at it and understand who I’m training with. It’s a bit weird sometimes, it’s nice to see them on TV and then remember that I’m training with these top level girls.
It’s pretty shocking how normal it is to train alongside someone like Keel. He is so consistent in getting all the major medals and you can just see how relentless it is. You can recognize how much work goes into getting those medals and staying on top. It’s lovely how normal she is and you can just have a real conversation with her which is very inspiring.
Keely Hodgkinson stuck with beach work (Getty)
What’s it like going to training camp as a young athlete?
I took a year off to have a chance to go to more training camps. I’ve been to three this year: Font Romeu and South Africa twice. Font Romeu is where I like the longer stuff and it’s where we really build our base. South Africa is where all the real work begins and you see how everything starts to come together for the track.
It’s very exhausting because most of the time I’m just chasing, so I just accept that you’re following, but you’re still doing great. Although it’s tiring, it’s a lot of fun and it gives you a bit of independence because you’re living with other athletes.
Ava Lloyd (David Hewitson)
Who are you inspired by and who are you?
All the older girls in my group like Keely, Georgia Bell, Sarah Healy and Erin Wallace. There is just something about seeing how much hard work goes into their racing and how it is by no means an easy task. Sessions aren’t always great, but every session doesn’t need to be crazy to get to the top. you need to be consistent and determined at that level.
I also look up to Jessica Ennis since I remember being in elementary school in 2012 and watching Super Saturday. That’s when I realized how big athletics is.
Georgia Bell (Getty)
Do you prefer 800m or 1500m?
When I was younger I was adamant that I was an 800m runner and Trevor always disagreed and said I would be a 1500m runner. I thought it was impossible because the idea of running three and three-quarters of a lap at 13 felt like I was running a marathon.
I did get a silver medal in the 800m at the English Schools Championships, but when I take a step back and look at the sessions I like better, it’s longer. I think Trevor might have a point as the 1500m is now my favourite.
READ MORE. The British squad for the World Under-20 Champions in Peru
What would Ava say to young Ava when she first started out?
You can’t fail as long as you keep going. The most important thing is to keep going, even though it’s going to be hard and it’s not always going to be good. No one can take anything away from you as long as you stick to it.
» This feature first appeared in the July issue of AW magazine. Subscribe here
