LAURA WHITTLE had several sporting options in life, plus the hereditary impetus of a father who, though English-born, had the good taste to see the light and compete for Scotland at World level. But if you dig around in an athlete's background there are always nuggets that point to a telling moment.

"Yes, it was dad who really got me into the sport," confesses Laura. "He always says it was because I was potty trained at the national cross-country championships."

From such inauspicious beginnings, Laura graduated nine years ago to European Under 23 champion at 5000 metres, and ran sixth in a world junior final before a calf injury thwarted London Olympic hopes. "I fell out of love with running, and needed time away. I still ran, but then, watching London 2012, I missed it all."

That inspired a come-back. "With the Commonwealths just two years away, I aimed for that." She was an encouraging sixth in the 5000m final at Hampden with her family in attendance. "Everyone dreams about the Olympics, so I thought I'd give it a go. For two years now I have been aiming for that."

Frustratingly, she missed last year's World Championship team by less than two seconds, but now all is finally coming together. Laura tops the British 5000m rankings (15:08.58), inside the Rio qualifying standard. Having also run inside the standard last year, she and Steph Twell are the only GB athletes with the required two marks.

The first two in the trials with the standard will be selected automatically. "It's going to be a tough year," she says. "A lot of people will have run the time, so it will be down to the trial."

Dad is Paul Kenney, Leicestershire-born but a student at Dundee University when he opted for Scotland. He was most unlucky not to win a World cross-country team medal at the 1974 championships at Monza.

Willie Sheridan and Kenney were 12th and thirteenth respectively in the junior race, with 16-year-old Nat Muir making his international debut in 19th. Scotland's fourth counter, back in 49th, was future marathon star John Graham. Their total of 93 points left Scotland three shy of the Italian hosts who won bronze with just one athlete in the top 20 to our three.

Kenney went on to run three times in the world-cross, and finished his athletics career with a 2:17.04 marathon to his credit.

"When I was about 13, dad said I was now old enough to come down to the track," recalls Laura. "He never used to wear socks with his spikes. I do that too, so some of his traditions have passed down. I remember watching him at the London Marathon when I was a little girl – so excited waiting for him to come past, and so proud to take his medal into school, to show off."

And she remembers her first race, at Uttoxeter. "The top 50 got a T-shirt. I was 52nd, or something. So next year I was really motivated to get the T-shirt, and the older I got, I became stronger and better at it."

Her Scottish mother, Pam made several sporting options available: hockey, tennis. "I was not much good at that – tried to run away from the ball," she admits. But she enjoyed success as a swimmer. "I was alright, but did not make it to county level. I think it helped my running though. My swim teacher taught good discipline, and we trained quite hard."

In athletics that has transferred to ranking in the Scottish top 10 all-time at 1500 and 3000m, as well as fifth at 5000m.

Her younger sister, Olivia, also showed promise. She and Laura won team gold in the European Under 20 and Under 23 cross-country respectively in 2006, but Olivia backed off the sport while graduating in medicine.

Laura, who has a degree in publishing and English, works 25 hours a week on admissions at Loughborough University's business school. "Great for training – very flexible," she says.

She trained until last year with George Gandy, the university's legendary endurance guru. Seb Coe and Scottish 1500m and mile native record-holder Graham Williamson are just two of a catalogue of his world-ranked proteges.

Feeling it was time for a change she switched to Alex Hains and she trains in his small group with her husband, Rob. "The change seems to be working and I owe Alex a huge amount for what he's done for me this year, but I would always credit George for having played such a big part in my development in previous years.

"I was a bit disappointed to miss the Worlds – so close. Sometimes it's just down to luck when you are chasing times – you need the right race for it all to click."

Now, she has no need to be a slave to the standards. Thus far, Eilish McColgan (one) and Twell (two) are the only other Brits with a qualifying mark. She plans to enjoy her running meantime, with the pressure off. It may be the trial before she runs another 5000. "I have not decided yet," she confirmed yesterday.

She plays piano and trombone, but admits the latter, "produced some interesting sounds when I was learning. My family used to think it was similar to cow noises. Thankfully for my fellow athletes, the trombone was a bit too big to take on running trips and camps, so their ears were saved!"

Baking and decorating cakes for family and friends is a big hobby. "My favourite cake-tin is heart-shaped. My husband Rob plays poker regularly with friends on a Thursday night. When it's his turn to host, I try and make them a cake too. They seem to appreciate it, even though it's heart-shaped!"

She has shed one superstition – always saying "White Rabbit" on the first of the month. Her 5000m in California (fifth on the Scottish all-time list) came on May 1. "But I forgot to say it." She does, however, keep a lucky conker in her spike bag. It comes from a tree which grows over the grave of her maternal grandparents, both Glasgow born and bred.

On current form she may not need any talisman come the Olympic trials.