Although Lisa did not have an A standard performance, the selectors were of the view that as a result of her marathon debut and strong performances in the cross country she was worthy of nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection in the Australian team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In Beijing, Lisa withstood humid conditions to finish 33rd in the marathon, running 2:34:16.
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
5000 metres: 2007 - 4th (3rd Australian)
10000 metres: 2006 - 1st
Half Marathon: 2006 - 1st, 2007 - 1st
Cross Country: 2003 - 1st (U23), 2006 - 3rd, 2007 - 2nd
INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS:
IAAF World Cross Country: 2007 - 42nd, 2008 - 20th (Team Bronze)
IAAF World Road Racing: 2006 - 37th, 2007 - 33rd
Chiba Ekiden Road Relay: 2004 - 9th, 2006 - 4th
London Marathon: 2008 - 13th 2:32:22 (on debut)
Lisa is a successful IBM Business Consultant and an elite athlete. Lisa received The Age Award for Business Excellence in 2000.
Lisa is also a member of the Prime Minister’s Marathon Squad of which Australian marathon champions Stephen Moneghetti and Pat Farmer mentor her.
As a junior athlete Lisa showed promising athletic ability. She would go running with her Dad and was always determined to keep up with him. Unfortunately she spent the majority of her early years battling chronic stress fractures in the tibia, however through a persistent and determined nature and a great support network Lisa has been able to overcome injury and is rapidly becoming one of Australia's stars over the long distance events.
At age 29, Lisa is starting to see the results of her hard work. In 2007 she finished fourth in the Australian Championship over 5000 metres (3rd Australian) in a time of 16:08.22. Two months later over the same distance at Oregon, USA, Lisa would collect a personal best time of 15:54. It would be a sign of things to come for the distance runner who would not only win the Australian Half Marathon Championships but would go on to qualify for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
A valuable experience for the talented Victorian, Lisa finished 42nd in her debut at the IAAF World Cross Country in oppressive conditions in Kenya.
In 2008, Lisa continued to perform well both on the domestic and international scene. She took victory in the World Cross Country Selection Trial against a quality field and was once again on her way to the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland. The experience of 2007 would pay dividends and Lisa would finish 20th (2nd Australian) helping the team to a bronze medal, Australia's first in the long course teams event.
In good form Lisa travelled to London to compete in her first ever marathon. It was a great decision that saw her finish 13th in a time of 2:32.22, to be the second fastest marathon on debut by an Australian woman.
Although Lisa did not have an A standard performance, the selectors were of the view that as a result of her marathon debut and strong performances in the cross country she was worthy of nomination to the Australian Olympic Committee for selection in the Australian team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In Beijing, Lisa withstood humid conditions to finish 33rd in the marathon, running 2:34:16.