Further Information 

Competition Stats

AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
800 metres: 2000 (U20) - 2nd (U18) - 1st, 2001 - (U20) 3rd (2nd Australian), 2002 - (U20) 2nd
1500 metres: 2000 (U20) - 2nd (U18) - 1st, 2002 (U20) - 3rd, 2003 (U20) - 1st, 2004 – 3rd, 2005 - 4th, (U23) - 1st, 2006 - 3rd, 2007 - 1st, 2008 - 4th
3000 metres: 2000 (U18) - 1st

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:

Commonwealth Games: 2006 – 1500m 12th (4.15.05)
Commonwealth Youth Games: 2000 - 800m 2nd (2.10.16)
Oceania Championships: 1999 - 800m 1st, 1500m 1st, 3000m 2nd, medley relay 1st
Pacific School Games: 2000 - 800m 1st, 1500m 1st, 3000m 3rd
World Youth Championships: 2001- 800m 6th (2.08.77)
World Championships: 2007 - 1500m 12th semi (4.08.79)

ANNUAL PROGRESSION:

800 metres:
1996  2.32.5
1997  2.21.3
1998  2.14.07
1999  2.09.42
2000  2.06.00
2001  2.07.06
2002  2.07.48
2003  2.08.42
2004  2.04.54/2.03.38(mix)
2005  2.06.08      
2006  2.05.08
2007  2.01.59

1500 metres:
1998  4.40.5
1999  4.30.02
2000  4.22.71
2001  4.26.38
2002  4.27.51
2003  4.20.61
2004  4.12.55/4.10.30 (mix)
2005  4.10.69
2006  4.09.93
2007  4.05.25
2008  4:06.97

EVENTS/PERSONAL BESTS:
400 metres: 56.70
800 metres: 2007 - 2.01.59 - Canberra
1500 metres: 2007 - 4.05.25 - Sydney
Mile: 2007 - 4.22.66 - Melbourne (national record)
3000 metres: 2006 - 9.00.34 - Sydney, 11/03/06

RECORD(S):
Australian National and Allcomers record - mile (4.22.66 - Melbourne, 2/03/07)

Interesting Facts

Lisa grew up in western New South Wales in the small country town of Canowindra. Her father Michael coached her until she made the move to Canberra in 2002 to take up an AIS scholarship and train with present coach, Dick Telford. She has represented the western region of New South Wales in netball, swimming and touch football. She has also spoken openly about overcoming an eating disorder to now be at her best.

Sporting Career

Lisa’s first athletics experience was running primary school cross country in 1995. The 1999-2000 summer season was the first major breakthrough period for Lisa beginning with a 800/1500/3000m treble in the 15 years category of the Combined High Schools Carnival before repeating the feat a month later at the NSW All Schools Championships.

At the 1999 Australian All Schools Championships, she drew notice by winning the 1500m and 3000m events and placing second in the 800m to Georgie Clarke and then at the Australian Youth Championships in Hobart easily winning the U18 “Corrigan” treble. Lisa then won both the 800m and 1500m at the Pacific Schools Games in May, before travelling to Edinburgh in August to compete at the Commonwealth Youth Games where she placed second in the 800m.

Four National Championship medals came in 2001 including gold in the Under 20 1500m, ahead of selection in the Australian team for the World Youth (U18) Championships in Debrecen (HUN) in which she placed a creditable sixth in the final.

Whilst 2004 delivered a 10-second improvement in Lisa’s personal best at 1500m and 2005 further gains, it was the period from December 2006 onwards that saw her real growth as a quality athlete. Spurred on by what she regarded as a disappointing 12th place over 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Lisa began the 2006-07 season in great style with an eye-catching run at the Zatopek meeting in Melbourne at the distance. Whilst at 4.14.66 it was not fast, it was nonetheless an indication of what was to come.

A series of entertaining tussles with Tamsyn Lewis over 800 metres preceded a high quality World Championships qualifying run at 1500m at the Sydney A Series meet, a national mile record at the World Athletics Tour meet in Melbourne and a national title in Brisbane, all culminating in selection for Osaka.

The opportunity to compete in Europe before the World Championships in Osaka was presented, providing a steep though valuable learning curve for Lisa as she lined up alongside some of the best in the business. In Osaka, she finished sixth in her heat and progressed to the semi final where she led for a good part of the early stages but faded to finish 12th.

After her breakthrough year in 2007, the 23 year old has suffered from a recent string of injuries that have seriously restricted her 2008 season. At the Australian Championships Lisa finished fourth in the 1500 metres (4:22.05).  Since then she has made a welcome return to form, finishing 3rd and posting a second A qualifying time at the Adidas Track Classic in the USA (4:06.97). This strong result proved she was coming into great form and she was subsequently nominated for her first Olympic team.