Perri sets sights on track success indoors and out

For Perri, who burst onto the scene when she won the Olympic trials for Beijing in 2008, it's part of a busy athletics schedule this year.

She said: "I'm looking forward to going to the World Indoors, it's fantastic to be part of the squad. It shows everything is going well with my training and I'm determined to do my best out there.

"But my main goal this year is the European Championships in Barcelona in July, and then maybe the Commonwealth Games. The Commonwealths are a big event, but they are in October so I'll only go if I'm fit, healthy and feel right. But the Europeans are definitely on the list."

Perri didn't travel to Beijing despite winning the trial because her time didn't meet the A grade standard. But she wasn't too disappointed, preferring to focus on the title challenge on home turf in 2012.

She said: "If I'd been selected to go to Beijing it would have been a big bonus. It wasn't part of my goals, but I never know what I'm capable of doing. I sometimes surprise myself and winning the trial was one of my surprises.

"2012 is being held just round the corner from where I live and my goal is to get to the final. If you can get to the final anything can happen. My personal best is 55.26 seconds and by 2012 I want it down to 53 seconds. Then anything can happen.

"Running at home will be such an advantage because you want to perform in front of your home crowd. My family will all be there. In fact, I wish they could have a block in the stand all to themselves. They might need a bigger stadium."

Olympic bronze medallist Tasha Danvers and Eilidh Child are two of Perri's domestic rivals, and she knows she has to maintain her progress to be involved in 2012.

She said: "There's them, but someone else might creep in there, so you've always got to be on your toes. But it's good to have that competition to keep your performance standard high."

Perri is a sports science student at Brunel University but trains at Mile End stadium. She feels the passion for athletics in Tower Hamlets is growing.

She said: "I'm always trying to promote athletics with kids and trying to be a role model for them. There's always loads of them at the Mile End stadium track on a Tuesday and Thursday night, even when it's raining.

"That's what I like to see and it's very encouraging for the future of the sport.

"My advice to anyone thinking of taking up athletics is to find your local club and then get into any event you can. There's something for everyone."

Perri was speaking at the launch of the Run To The Beat half marathon last Friday, where she was supporting the official charity partner Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

She said: "It's a good charity to support as it helps with a lot of diagnosis of young children and people under 35 who have blood cancer. I'm pleased to be able to help them.

"But I won't be running the half marathon. I have to do distance running as part of my training programme but 13 miles is a bit too far for me. I'll stick to the one lap.

Run To The Beat takes place in Greenwich on September 26, starting and finishing at The O2. To register to enter visit runtothebeat.co.uk.