STEPH TWELL will run in her first Diamond League meeting in two years tonight and the Scot believes it's vital she makes an immediate signal of her intent.
The Commonwealth Games medallist faces former Olympic gold medallist Mereset Defar and three-times world champion Vivian Cheruiyot over 3000 metres in Doha in her first major test of the season.
Two weeks ago, Twell secured the UK Athletics qualifying mark for 5000 metres in a low-key outing in California to underline her recovery from a broken ankle. However, she wants to use the race in Qatar to assess her progress against the middle-distance elite.
"It's about getting race fit again, getting myself back on the track because I've been away," said the 22-year-old. "It's important that you race well so organisers will want you in other races. Plus I've got a big focus on the 1500m.
"My biggest goal is to get the Olympic Games qualifying time and then getting ready for the trials in Birmingham."
Twell's best over 3000m was set nearly four years ago in Stuttgart. Lowering her time of 8:50.89 should be a realistic goal. However, despite a strong cross country campaign and positive early season signs, she insists that her priority remains on peaking in London.
"I'm not focusing on these races totally," she admitted. "But that's why I'm happy. I know there's more to come because I'm not really on the top of my game."
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