HANNAH England faces what could be the biggest year of her life.

After making the giant stride from a very good athlete to a world class athlete in 2011, the eyes of the nation will be on Oxfordshire’s leading lady in London this summer.

Her silver medal in Daegu last year when she fairly stormed down the home straight in the 1,500m final at the World Championships has seen England become one of the faces of the Olympics.

The Oxford City athlete is now being talked of in the same light as Jessica Ennis, Rebecca Adlington and Kelly Sotherton in terms of the nation’s big hopes for women this year.

Indeed England is quoted at 66-1 to be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2012.

To be in with a chance of that, she knows she will need to win gold – but after announcing her preparation for the Olympics will involve two early indoor meetings, she is confident that everything will be in place to give that a real shot.

England will line up in the 1,500m, at Glasgow’s Kelvin Hall on January 28 and again at the NIA in Birmingham on February 18.

“I’m really looking forward to the indoor season,” England said.

“Although it hasn’t been that long since I last competed, it’s always good to get back on the track.

“2011 was a really positive year for me and I’m already looking to measure my fitness against the competition after my initial winter training period.

“I haven’t competed in Glasgow since 2005, so it will be great to get back there for the Aviva international match.

“I really love competing in team events. Athletics can be a lonely sport sometimes so it’s brilliant to race at meets where you have your team’s support – it really echoes the feel of a major championships.

“2011 was a breakthrough year for me and it has allowed me to shift my expectations for 2012.

“For now though, it’s important that I keep focused on training and preparation – Daegu is in the past and I just need to keep my head down and work towards London 2012.

“I know my silver medal in Daegu came as a surprise to some people, but I was so pleased with that performance. It definitely took a while to sink in but now that it has, it’s given me a real boost of confidence.”

Yet the 24-year-old will never lose her roots.

On New Year’s Eve, during a brief return to Oxford before jetting off to a training camp in Kenya, England popped in at a training session at her former club.

She jogged down to The Parks, did a quick warm-up, run and warm down before running back to her parent’s house.

And it won’t just be her former club supporting her all the way this year – an entire nation will be screaming her on.