An international sprinter who has set her sights on the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 is celebrating after receiving a first class degree in advertising.

Corinne Humphreys of Leyton decided to go back to education in 2014 as a mature student after years of dedicating her time to athletics.

After making her senior GB debut at the European Team Championships in France in 2017, Corinne was selected for the World Championships in London and then competed at the World University Games in Taipei.

This year she ran on her largest stage so far – the Commonwealth Games, where she reached the semi-final of the 100 metres before injury forced her to withdraw.

But after recovering, the 26-year-old, who is a former pupil at to The Lammas Secondary School Leyton’s Seymour Road, went on to represent the University of East London (UEL) at the World University Games.

“From getting to travel to places like Taiwan with my athletics, I think I’d like to work overseas; I can see lots of opportunities in the Far East with advertising and marketing, she said.

After enrolling in the New Beginnings access course, which equips mature students with the skills to study for a full degree, she went on to study advertising.

Corinne maintained her commitment to competitive sprinting, despite the fact that between 2013 and 2017 her ambitions were hampered by constant injury.

Corinne credits UEL’s sports programme and their strength and conditioning coach, Julie Gooderick, for helping her turn things around.

“Obviously I was disappointed but it allowed me to see close-up how hard athletes at that level work and it gave me a taste of where I want to be in the future,” she said.

“I have only had three years in my track career that have been injury-free.

“Julie designed a programme specifically for me to build my strength up.

“Last year's outdoor season was all about competing fit so to have achieved three GB selections and an England Commonwealth vest is still mind-boggling to me.

“To see hard work pay off in such a major way was just surreal.”

Corinne believes the skills she learned to deal with setbacks in her sporting career have helped her cope while studying full-time and writing her dissertation.

She is now looking to the future in both her career in advertising and her sports life and is hopeful to make it to Japan in two years’ time for her biggest test yet.

“I’m giving myself till the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 - I think if I work hard and can stay injury free I can get there.”