Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers' Marilyn Okoro is out for a sudden improvement ahead of the World Championships in Moscow after ending the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games with mixed emotions.
The 28-year-old was left disappointed after fading towards the end of the 800m at the Olympic Stadium crossing the finish line in 2:00.35minutes, still her second quickest time this year, for fourth place.
And Okoro, who controversially missed out on 800m selection for the London 2012 Olympics last summer, admits she needs to be more disciplined in the first half of her race to contend in Russia.
“It’s the last one before Moscow, so I really wanted to try and execute a good race,” she said. “I keep running two flat so usually that means there’s a jump waiting to happen.
“I’m disappointed with the placing, but I’ve seen the coach and we’ve worked out a couple of things that possibly went wrong.
“I learned that 57 seconds for the first lap is too fast – I wanted to be about 58 but the pacemaker wasn’t able to hold that.
“I think on my own I would have controlled it a little bit better. I still need to be aggressive, but if I can do 58 or 59 I’ll be good.”
Okoro’s run in the Olympic Stadium brought back memories of last year’s London 2012 omission, Lynsey Sharp Britain’s sole 800m runner despite not having the A standard.
The Shaftesbury Barnet middle distance runner struggled with those emotions in the build up but was delighted to finally hear the backing of a 65,000-strong sell-out crowd.
“I had to put away a lot of those thoughts earlier in the week, but obviously you can’t always control your thoughts and emotions,” Okoro added.
“I had to put a lot of the negativity aside and try to focus. It was just amazing to hear the roar of the crowd and I remember that from last year, sitting in the stands.
“It’s just phenomenal knowing that many people are behind you, so I loved having my moment.”
The Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games is the final event in the Sainsbury’s Summer Series. For more information on Sainsbury’s support of world class athletics and disability sport go to www.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk/occasions/anniversary-games/
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