Editors note:  Adva Cohen is the top middle distance runner from Israel and competes for the top-ranked University of New Mexico women's track team. She is a junior and majoring in General Management. Adva qualified for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo in the 3000m Steeplechase and was recently named NCAA All-American during the winter track season. She was interviewed on June 29th. 

TIB: How have you been getting through this time period?  When did you leave New Mexico?

AC: We had finished the track indoor season and were in the middle of getting ready for the National Indoor Track Championships at the end of February when the meet was cancelled.  It was confusing because I needed to keep training for the Outdoor season, the European Championships and the Olympics.  We went on Spring Break at the beginning of March and were told that the one week of break would be extended to 2 weeks.  At that point, we found out that the European Championships were cancelled and the Olympics would be moved to 2021. Then it became obvious that school would go completely on-line as well, so I went to visit my friend in Nashville, TN and took classes remotely.  I left the US at the end of May, had to quarantine in a hotel in Jerusalem for 2 weeks, and now I'm at home getting ready for the Israeli National Championships while I take summer school classes from University of New Mexico.

TIB:  How is training going?  Do you automatically still qualify for the Olympics in 2021?

AC:  I have continued training, working on the parts that I wasn't able to focus on as much like strength and weight training.  We have some meets coming up in Israel and next week I will be in my first competition since the end of February.  There are invitationals and league meets here Israel that lead to the National Championships in August.

With regards to the Olympics, the top 45 women in the world qualify in my race (the 3000m Steeplechase) and I am ranked between 21 and 24 right now.  I can also qualify with my time, but without official meets that is hard to do.  I had qualified with my time previously and I will try to see what my level is like after the upcoming competitions in the next month or two.

TIB:  What was the on-line learning experience like?

AC: I really like the on-line learning experience.  When you are training and have to go to class, you have to schedule your life around the classes and being physically in the seat.  But with on-line classes I can listen to the lectures when it suits me and it makes life easier.  Right now I am taking 4 week summer classes from home in Israel—I just finished a class recently and I have another one starting soon.  It also has affected my grades for the better—last semester I ended up with four A's and a B because I was able to focus better on my academics.

TIB: What are the plans with school going forward?  They usually want you there in August for Cross Country training, right?

AC:  Nobody really knows what the situation is.  I have heard that some coaches have asked their athletes to be back at school in August as usual, but others that have told athletes to take a semester off until the situation clears up.  My coach at New Mexico hasn't come up with plan just yet on what we should do.  It looks like the Fall cross country season will be cancelled, but that isn't official.  Another factor are the protests that are taking place in the US.  I heard that there were some demonstrations in Albuquerque after the George Floyd killing and statues that were taken down.  The university wants to make sure we are in a safe environment before allowing us back on campus, which is understandable.

TIB:  Any other interesting ways this whole experience has affected your life?

AC: I try to look at everything in a positive light.  I was able to do well academically because of the on-line classes, reconnect with my friends and family and take a little break from an intense training regimen. Even when I got back to Israel and had to quarantine in a hotel for 2 weeks, I managed to find ways to train and work out.