Part-time athlete Mary Iheke is dreaming of running her way through to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games for Great Britain.

The 200m and 400m runner is driven by missing out on London 2012 and she is determined to be representing her country on the grand stage next year.

Iheke was persuaded into starting athletics by Nick Murphy, her secondary school PE teacher at the time, who was impressed with her performances in school cross country races.

She then joined Kingston Athletics Club and Polytechnic Harriers in year nine where she started training after school.

“I use to train in the evenings and come back home really late,” said Iheke.

“I really got into it at the time so I started training really hard and I ran for my club for three years.”

Iheke, 24, was forced to put athletics on hold in 2010 due to financial reasons as she began studying biomedical sciences at University College London.

It seemed unlikely she would go back to athletics until she was persuaded by close friend, Jade Phillips, to join her for a training session.

“She just asked me to come along and give it a try. Then her coach, Jason Carty, also helped talk me into picking athletics up again,” said Iheke.

Iheke made a return to part-time athletics in 2013 after completing her university degree.

She has since gone on to participate in the British Athletics UK Championships in 2014 where she finished fifth in the 400m final.

However Iheke says this is all just part of building towards her biggest dream.

“Representing Great Britain at the Rio Olympics is definitely my ultimate goal,” she added.

“It would mean a lot to me and it would be really emotional if I made it.

“When I was watching London 2012 I kept thinking that I could have been there.

“Missing out on London is pushing me to get to Rio.”