Marilyn Okoro admits it's now or never

Posted: Saturday 17th January 2009 | 12:36

MARILYN Okoro admits it is make or break in her bid to star on the international stage after failing to reach a major Games final last year.

BERLIN HERE WE COME: Marilyn Okoro is gunning for World Championship glory

Despite appearing at her first Olympics the 800m runner didn't progress beyond the semi-final stage as she failed to match her pre-Games personal best of 1.58.45 minutes in the Bird's Nest.

The 24-year-old's Beijing disappointment came hot on the heels of her failure to progress from her first round heat in the year's other major competition, the World Indoor Championships in Valencia.

And with the European Indoors as well as the World Championships pencilled in for 2009, Okoro - who finished the season with a morale boosting third at the World Athletics Final - insists its time she produced the goods on the big stage.

"I am at a point in my career where I need to make finals - I have had two years where I have gone to big events so I shouldn't be affected by that anymore," said Okoro, who is currently warm-weather training at an Aviva-funded Team GB camp.

"If I can get to some finals this year I will be pleased - the European indoors presents a chance as do the World's in Berlin.

"This is a big year for me and I want to be competing with the best girls in the world because I know I can now. I feel I now have enough championship experience and it is time for me to start performing.

"The Olympics was a good experience but ultimately I was disappointed - I don't really tend to look at the negatives but if I want to be competitive in 2012 I need to be harsh and set the standards high."

Okoro - who was part of the Team GB 4x400m relay team in Beijing - will have an early opportunity to make good on her promise if, as expected, she qualifies for March's European Indoor Championships.

And while the Worlds in Berlin remain the priority for the current British champion she is determined to lay down a marker to her rivals in Torino.

"I want to take the indoor season seriously and get fit enough to compete - it works as a good measure of what you want to do next," added Okoro, who was part of the bronze-medal winning relay team at the 2007 World Championships.

"Last year I didn't have a great indoor season but I had a successful summer in the UK before heading to the Olympics - so you can't over analyse or get too caught up about things.

"It was really disappointing in Valencia last year and I didn't really do as well as I would have liked to have done and a few of the other 800m girls took advantage.

"But hopefully I can put that right this year and go out and be competitive with competitive times."

RYAN BANGS