Grade 12 Dover Bay student Olivia Lundman broke a 30 year old Canadian record in her only racewalk event of 2020. (Phillip Vannini)

By Dan Marshall

Canadian Record

Nanaimo racewalker sets new Canadian record in 3 kilometre event

Oct 22, 2020 | 7:08 PM

NANAIMO — It took all of one event for Olivia Lundman to break a Canadian record.

The 17-year-old Dover Bay student was the only competitor in the three kilometre U18 racewalk in Kamloops on Oct. 17.

She beat a record set by Quebec’s Mylene Dupere which had stood for 30 years. It was Lundman herself who convinced organizers to host a racewalk event at the meet.

“I thought I could do it and I really wanted to have a shot at it before I move up to the next age group,” Lundman said.

She ended up beating the record by 11 seconds with the new mark a time of 14:25.74.

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“It was different because it was just me against the clock and the conditions were not what I’m used to. But I said to myself I didn’t come all this way to not do this.”

COVID-19 shut down the entire season for Lundman. She didn’t have any other opportunities to compete and there won’t be anymore to come in 2020.

The training regime was quite different for Lundman this year.

With no competitions to get ready for her routine became quite repetitive.

“For months and months I ended up doing the same 45 minute walks and the same five workout routines every single week. Because I was at home and not going anywhere I was doing them on the same route around town over and over again.”

The U18 three kilometre race is not contested very often in international meets.

Lundman did look at the world record time in the event but felt it wasn’t a realistic goal this season.

The next time she races will be in the U20 category.

Aging up will mean more of her races will be 10,000 metres instead of the 5,000 and lower she’s been used to.

“My next goal is to come into 2020-21 strong. I want to get my mileage up so I can get some 10,000 metre races in to can get my times down.

Lundman’s end goal is to represent Canada on the national racewalking team and compete internationally.

dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77