KAYLEE Dodd is prepared to face up to a winter of pain to realise her international ambitions.

The Basildon AC youngster, 16, finished second in the 800m at the SIAB Schools’ International in what was her second appearance for her country.

The Wickford teenager was again denied a gold medal by rival Loren Bleaken.

Dodd had already finished runner-up to Bleaken at both the UK School Games and English Schools’ championships.

And the former Beauchamps School pupil knows if she is to get the better of Bleaken and to stake her claim for further international honours, she has got to put the work in this winter.

“I need to have a good winter with lots of strength work,” she said. “Hopefully I can do that and come out next year and be better.

“The speed is not a problem, but I just need to work on the strength which I’ve not got at the moment on the second lap of an 800m.”

Dodd ran 2m 9.21s at the schools international in Ashford and admitted being “a bit disappointed with the time, but always happy to get a medal”.

And the experience of being away with the top athletes in the country has reinforced her ambitions to do it again – but next time with the Great Britain squad.

“It was one of the best weekends I had all year,” she said. “You are with people from all over the country and then you think that’s what Jess (Judd) got to experience for a whole week at the World Juniors and it does make you want to be part of that.

“The World Juniors in America in two years’ time is a big aim of mine and I would love to earn that Great Britain vest.

“I’ve just got to work hard!”