Shianne Smith is hopeful of qualifying for her first Olympic Games after switching from heptathlon to the 400-metres hurdles in a bid to improve her chances of reaching Rio.

The 30-year-old started her season at last week’s Bermuda Invitational Permit Meet at the National Stadium, finishing sixth in the 400 hurdles in a time of 1min 03.73sec.

Smith said the Olympic standard for the 400 hurdles was far more achievable than the heptathlon, which had been raised to 6200 points.

“When I started this whole quest four years ago they had a standard which was obtainable [for me],” said Smith, who needs to hit a qualifying mark of 56.30 in the 400 hurdles.

“It frustrates me because I like the heptathlon, that’s where my heart is, but the goal is to go to Rio. I can always go back to heptathlon next year.”

Smith competed in the 400 hurdles for the first time at a meet in Bondoufle, France, in May last year and crossed the line in 59.74.

She believes she is capable of shaving more than three seconds off that time before the qualification deadline on July 11.

“We made the decision in January after I spoke to Donna [Raynor, the Bermuda National Athletics Association president] and my coaches,” Smith said.

“My only motivation is getting that time down and I know I can do it. Three seconds is not that much, it’s not like we’re talking about the 100 metres.

“It’s doable and all I’m working on now is my speed, I’m not jumping or throwing anymore.”

Smith, who relocated to Montpellier in October 2012, already has experience in her new event after competing regularly in the 100 hurdles as part of the heptathlon.

There are, however, subtle differences according to Smith, who opens her French season at the National Club Championships next Sunday.

“The 400 hurdles is completely different to the 100 hurdles in terms of fatigue and lactic acid,” said Smith, who now lives in Toulouse. “You really have to push through it.

“It’s the same concept in terms of the rhythm and you need to get your steps down. I’ve spoken to my coaches and done some analysing, so I know more about it.”

The former California State University student suffered heartbreak last season after being cut from the Pan Am Games just days before the start of the competition in Toronto.

She had met the original standard set more than year prior to the Games, but fell foul of the revised changes by the Association of Pan American Athletes to reduce the number of athletes.

“Last season was a really good one but I wasn’t able to finish it because the issue at the Pan Ams,” she said.

“When I was looking ahead to this season I didn’t really know where I was at because I hadn’t done a full heptathlon since last April.”

Smith represented Bermuda at the 2011 Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, finishing tenth, and at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she placed eighth.