Montreal’s Simone Plourde might be a reputation to observe this summer season in Paris.
The 23-year-old concluded her 2024 indoor season with 4 private bests within the 800m, 1,500m, mile, and three,000m. She additionally represented Staff Canada for the second time in eight months within the ladies’s 1,500m, competing on the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow (earlier this month), the place she left wanting extra.
Plourde completed fifth in her 1,500m warmth, lacking out on one in every of three automated qualifying spots to the ultimate. “I knew the health was there,” stated Plourde post-race. “It’s simply the boldness that should come alongside. The large stage will be intimidating.”
Reflecting on her expertise in Glasgow, Plourde acknowledged the significance of studying from the expertise. She at present trains with Nike’s Union Athletics Membership, one of many prime distance operating teams in North America, underneath the steerage of Pete Julian and Irish Olympic medallist Sonia O’Sullivan.
“Coaching with Union has been nice, and I really feel actually supported,” says Plourde. “It helps when you might have good coaches and teammates to maintain pushing me ahead.”
“I actually tried to go for it, however when it got here for switching gears—I simply didn’t have it in me.”
Simone Plourde 🇨🇦 on her fifth-place end within the W 1,500m heats. pic.twitter.com/AcSTzhTeHq
— Canadian Working (@CanadianRunning) March 1, 2024
Transitioning from faculty to the skilled circuit final summer season, Plourde forwent her ultimate two years of eligibility within the NCAA to signal with Nike. Regardless of the difficult adjustment, she feels she’s in a wonderful place to get to Paris. “I couldn’t ask for extra,” says Plourde. “We’re always attempting new issues and doing exercises I’ve by no means performed earlier than in coaching.”
Because the out of doors season approaches, Plourde at present holds an Olympic qualification spot within the Highway To Paris rankings primarily based on World Athletics factors. Nevertheless, that would change. For her to punch a ticket to France, she shall be aiming for the 1,500m automated qualifying mark of 4:02.50 within the coming months.
