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Marilyn Okoro believes she has slipped under the radar en route to the European Championships – but the 800m runner fully intends to make her presence felt in Barcelona.

With compatriot and fellow 800m runner Jenny Meadows hogging the headlines with world bronze last summer and world indoor silver in March, Okoro has found herself out of the public eye.

Injuries have not helped and Okoro had knee surgery over the winter ruling her out of the indoor season, but being kept quiet is not something that sits easily with the jazz and gospel singer.

Okoro, 25, is yet to realise her all-too-evident potential and while she has the experience of the Olympics, the World Championships and the 2006 European Championships under her belt, the big stage has proved an unhappy stomping ground.

It has not gone unnoticed and no-nonsense UKA head coach Charles van Commenee has been outspoken as to Okoro’s race tactics – calling her naive in her gung-ho approach and running out of steam at the 2009 European Indoor Championships.

But Okoro remains forthright that leading from the front is what she does best.

“I am going to run in the way that is comfortable for me knowing that I am a few weeks stronger and I have done some great work outs in the heat,” said Okoro.

“I love to run in the heat and Barcelona is definitely going to be hot so I am just going to use my experience of championship running because it is very different.

“You have got to use your head in the 800m a lot more than just legging it around 800m there are so many other variables that come into the race.

“I’m probably better off with a faster first lap, going through quite quickly but then I constantly find myself at the front, leading and I tend to be comfortable with that as long as you have had your good sessions and you are feeling strong so I was a little reluctant to do that at the start of the season.

“One thing I don’t want to leave this championship thinking is that I could have done more, I want to leave it knowing I had given my all.

“It is all about reading the race and I have been gaining the experience in that.”

A season’s best of 2:01.55 minutes sees Okoro languishing in lower reaches of this year’s rankings and she will be hard pushed to finish as top Brit with Meadows and UK champion Jemma Simpson to contend with.

But Okoro believes Barcelona will provide the perfect platform to shake things up.

“I definitely think that many people are probably underestimating Maz Okoro this year and I want to surprise some people,” she added.

“I’m definitely not underestimating anyone but I just feel like I am a contender as well.

“I definitely feel the spotlight is off me after what Jenny has done which is good and bad but also I like to be remembered for the right thing and the good thing which is running fast and bringing medals home so in a sense it does spur me on to want to get the limelight back.”

More than the Games / Eurosport