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Meadows: Wants to catch rival
"My dad would have been so pleased that I got to the Olympics. It was a big ambition for him so I'm going to go out there and do him and my family proud."
Jenny Meadows
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Jenny Meadows insists Marilyn Okoro's emergence as a medal contender has filled her with belief that a British trio could contest the 800 metre Olympic final.
The battle for national supremacy has been tightly contested over recent seasons but it's Okoro who has hit top form at just the right time, leaving Meadows and Jemma Simpson trailing in her wake.
Having claimed victory at last month's UK Championships and Olympic trials in Birmingham, the 23-year-old followed this up by setting an impressive personal best of one minute 58.45 seconds during her rousing triumph at the London Grand Prix.
In the same race her domestic rivals were not even close but the resolute Meadows is now determined to close the widening gulf by producing her best in Beijing.
She said: "I've looked at what Marilyn has done and it was just awesome. It's the kind of performance I'm aiming for in Beijing.
"Jemma and I have got to look at that and think 'wow'. Normally between the three of us there isn't a clear number one - but that's what Marilyn has done and we can be inspired. Also when I don't do well it gives me a bit of a kick up the bum and I do it in the next race.
"I have nothing to be complacent about and I've got everything to gain. I must go to Beijing and prove a point. I'm not panicking.
"Marilyn's put herself right amongst the top eight in the world and is a potential finalist. Jemma and I have got to follow her example and I'm sure all three of us are thinking we can make the final."
The Wigan runner defied a bout of illness to run a PB of 1:59.11 in Paris last month but admits she'll need to shave at least another half a second off that to exceed her exploits at last year's World Championships in Japan, where she reached the semi-finals.
However, the conditions in the Chinese capital could well promote slower tactical races and this would suit the British contingent down to the ground.
She said: "I think one minute 58 and a half would be enough to reach the final - just like it was in Osaka. On paper people will be saying Marilyn is going to make it and I have to match that.
"This year I've run in a few fast races and done well but I've also improved my tactics this year in slower races, except for the world indoor final in Valencia (finishing fifth). Fast or slow I hope to be prepared and get my tactics right.
"I'm equipped to do both now as long as I keep my composure which I've been working on. When I ran in the European Cup that was probably my best ever tactical race and got it right."
Fitting tribute
The 27-year-old dedicated that victory in Annecy back in June to her late father Keith, who had not long before died of cancer, and once again she'll be hoping his memory can spur her on.
"I've got six members of my family coming to watch me in Beijing," she said. "Unfortunately my father recently passed away so he's a big inspiration for me. I'm wearing a black ribbon and he would have been so pleased that I got to the Olympics. It was a big ambition for him so I'm going to go out there and do him and my family proud."
Meadows is far from concerned about some of the lightning fast times being set across the world this year - especially from Russia's Yelena Soboleva and Pamela Jelimo of Kenya - and instead is expecting some surprises.
She said: "The world lead this year is around one minute 54, which is incredible. Sometimes at world championships it follows the form book but at Olympics some strange things happen because it gets the better of some people.
"If us three go over there with a clear head you never know."
Team spirit
Meadows may well be focused on the track, but admits she still feels privileged to be on the same team as those from a wide variety of other sports and disciplines.
"I'm so excited just to be a part of the Olympic Games," she said. "When I got my kit the other week there was a logo saying 'All Sports One Team' and it felt really good. I'm really excited about that.
"Having never been to an Olympics before people tell me there is no other experience like it.
"Cyclists are heading the world at the moment, and Victoria Pendleton is absolutely awesome. I loved it at the world championships when she said how she'd been around for years finishing fifth and sixth then all of a sudden stepped right up.
"We've definitely got to be inspired by her and other sports."
Looking back, Meadows has some special memories of previous Olympic Games as she edges ever closer to fulfilling her own childhood dream.
She said: "Kelly Holmes was absolutely awesome in Athens but before that I remember Sally Gunnell in 1992. It was a woman for Britain and just awesome.
"Also that same year David Grindley in the 400m, he was about 19 and at the same club as me. I was only 11 at the time and watching David get to the final and that was great. One minute I saw him on the track and then on TV.
"I think at that age you just assume you'll make it, but now I'm really excited about becoming an Olympian."
