COULD super sprinter Tom Somers be bound for Beijing?

The 17-year-old 200 metre runner’s exploits on the track in 2014 have seen him installed as an outside bet to make the Great Britain team that travels to the Chinese capital for the World Athletics Championships in August.

Somers became the world’s quickest at his age group since Usain Bolt when clocking 20.37 seconds in the semi-finals at the IAAF World Junior Championships in the United States last year - a performance that has seen him rocket to national attention.

He was named among a national newspaper’s ‘ones to watch’ for 2015 feature in which the spotlight was trained on the cream of Britain’s upcoming sportsmen and women.

With the City of York Athletic Club runner about to surge back into competitive action at the Northern Championships in Sheffield on January 16 and 17, he knows strong displays could force his name into the picture.

But he is content to focus on his main goal, picking up a medal at the European Junior Championships, in Sweden in July, and let the other cards fall where they may.

He sees the 2017 World Championships as a more realistic aim.

“Hopefully I am going to qualify for the European Junior Championships and pick up my first international medal,” Somers said.

“I have made two championship finals without coming away with anything and it would be nice to go there and get a medal.

“It is my big focus for this year and anything else would be a bonus.”

Somers has been talked about in national circles as a potential prospect for the Olympics, in Rio in 2016, and, while he understands a lot must happen to achieve that goal, he is also happy to be in the conversation.

He added: “Due to the timing, I never thought I would be in touching distance of it.

“I have always thought it could be possible in 2020 - when I am a bit older - so it is a bit strange. After my run in the USA, though, a lot of things have come along at once.

“My main aim is the 2017 World Championships. It would be a hard test to get there this year and I’d love to just keep improving and pushing my mark down. I would love to go and it would be a great opportunity but it will be tough to get there.

“I will have to try to run a personal best again to be in with a chance.”

Somers goes to the English Institute of Sport later this month determined to hang on to his Under-20s 200m crown while also looking to improve on a 60m best of 6.97 seconds. That will be quickly followed by the senior nationals in February.

“It’s a bit tough when the weather is cold and the track is frozen but training is going really well,” he said.

“I am feeling good and strong going into events. I broke the indoor national record for 300 metres in December and I am now trying to build on that. I feel I am in good shape."