Oxford marathon runner Mara Yamauchi, named in Britain’s Olympic team this week, says she feared she would not make London 2012.

The 38-year-old former Headington Roadrunner was selected as one of the first three members of the GB athletic squad, alongside Paula Radcliffe and Scott Overall.

Yamauchi said she was “delighted and relieved” to get the nod after a difficult, injury-hit year.

“As recently as June this year, I was facing the decision of whether to have surgery or not on my hamstring,” she said.

“I thought I was not going to be able to qualify, but I didn’t want to give up trying until April when the final team is decided.

“Now my fortunes have turned around.”

Yamauchi, sixth at the Beijing Olympics, was sel-ected after clocking 2hrs, 27mins 24secs to finish third in the Yokohama Women’s Marathon – the qualifying time is 2.31.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been selected. It’s a dream come true.

“Ever since I was very young I wanted to go to the Olympics and this will be my second Games.

“It now means that I don’t have to run another marathon (before London) and that will be of huge benefit to my training.”

Yamauchi and Radcliffe’s selection mean there is one remaining Olympic marathon place for Britain’s women, with Jo Pavey leading the chase.

“It’s going to be a fantastic Olympics and I’m going to give it 110 per cent from now on in order to prepare myself as best as I possibly can,” said Yamauchi.

“I’m so grateful to all the people who have supported me in achieving selection for the Olympics.”