Marathon star Jess Trengove no certainty for Rio Olympics as next four months could be telling

JESS Trengove has to play a waiting game. The Aussie marathon star won’t find out for another four months whether she is heading to the Rio Olympics.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - JULY 27: Jess Trengove of Australia reacts after finishing third in the Women's Marathon on the city marathon course during day four of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games on July 27, 2014 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

MARATHON runner Jess Trengove is playing the waiting game.

While the 28-year-old all-but assured a trip to next year’s Rio Olympics when she claimed the Melbourne Marathon in October, she may yet have to run another marathon to cement a berth.

Australia can select up to three women for the race, and while Trengove’s winning time of two hours, 27 minutes and 45 seconds is enough at the moment, she is at the mercy of her rivals who could supersede that time in the next four months.

So until then, she’s hitting the slopes.

Trengove is heading to Falls Creek for some high-altitude training.

“I hadn’t tried (altitude training) prior to the London Games (in 2012),” she said.

“That’ll be building the base for next year. I hope to do a few races come February and March and go on another training camp throughout May.

“I’ll do a bit of a training block at altitude or away, and then come back, race a bit, do another training camp … just to (break up) the training a bit.

“I aim to run some 10km and half-marathon races and then come March, we’ll have an idea of whether I need to look at doing another marathon to try and make sure I qualify for the team.

“I’ve just got to sit and see what the other girls are doing now. That dictates what I’ll do. I’ll be training pretty similarly regardless – it’s just whether I’ll need to race a marathon race or train as if I’m going to run a marathon without the actual race in there.”

Jess Trengove keeps up a hot pace during the recent Melbourne Marathon.

Trengove is clocking up more hours in the gym, and says the benefits are most noticeable in injury prevention during her heavy training blocks.

Four-time Olympian Craig Mottram is in her corner, and believes a top-12 finish in Rio is well within reach after finishing 39th in London.

This time around, she’s learned the lessons and is ready to put them into practice.

“I’ve had a lot of different race experiences now and knowing how to handle different conditions and various tactical things,” she said.

“It’s just more of the same and taking on all those little lessons from along the way.”

More time in Melbourne alongside her brother, Melbourne Demons player Jack – who has battled significant foot issues - is also on the cards in the lead-up to Rio, with his big sister’s fingers crossed he has now endured his fair share of injuries.

“Hopefully, I get to see him actually play,” she said.

Originally published as Marathon star Jess Trengove no certainty for Rio Olympics as next four months could be telling