After successful 2015 Russell looks to Rio

A successful 2015 campaign has left 400 metre hurdler Janieve Russell happy but aiming for more.

Even as she recovers from knee surgery, Russell is hoping to contest the medals at next year's Olympic Games in Rio. After clicking to a personal best in the 2015 World Championships final, she believes she can do it.

According to Russell: "The outlook is just to make the team. As long as I make the team, I know I can also be a medal contender if I just push and work hard and keep injury free," she said in November.

"If I take care of myself for 2016 and keep injury free, I know I will be on top in the top three," she said.

The former Holmwood Technical standout said the World Championships was the highlight of her 2015 season. Things went well and Russell not only reached the final, but placed fifth with a lifetime best of 54.64 seconds.

Remarkably, she only started to do the 400 metre hurdles to fill a gap on the Holmwood team in 2011. She remembered her coach, Maurice Wilson, advising: "Just go out there and try it. You're a very brave girl. You can do it."

improvement needed

She is likely to need more improvement to get a medal at the Olympic Games next year.

On average, it took 53.88 seconds to secure third place at the 2012 Olympics and the last three World Championships.

"I had it in me this year, but we all know we have our ups and downs," she said.

"Every time I go out there on the track, I lower my time or do better, so 2016, I'm not nervous at all."

Rehabilitation of her injury is her main target now. "I'm getting there," she said.

"I just hope that when 2016 comes," she projected, "I can also make the team."