She's got the genes, she's got the speed ? is Arantxa King a Bermudian Olympian of the future?

At just 14, her coaches know that anything can happen as she develops, but the early signs are good.

King, daughter of Branwen Smith-King, a former Caribbean and Pan-Am Games pentathlete, and Adrian King, a national team cricket player and former Cup Match star, set a New England 55-metre dash record of 7.19 seconds in January and then clocked 7.14 in the All-State Championships last weekend ? among the dozen fastest school times across the US.

"I haven't seen anyone better in New England," said her Medford High School coach Jack Dempsey.

"There might be someone out there who hasn't stepped forward yet, but I don't think so. I can't believe how she handles the pressure ? maybe because she's so young she doesn't know any better.

"What you have to remember about King is that she is a young 14. She won't be 15 until November and that means she's running against kids three and sometimes four years older than she is ? and beating them with ease.

"She's just a natural talent. It's kind of amazing everything has happened so fast. I'm stunned by what she's doing.

"Arantxa's personality is amazing. She's so calm, nothing bothers her. You never know what's at the end of the road in terms of potential and state championships."

College recruiters are queuing up to take a long look at the young track star and the O-word is already being mentioned in her company.

"Barring injuries and if she stays totally focused on all the important things, and if she does have dreams of the Olympics, then sure, realistically, she could be an Olympian.

"Of course, you have to remember you're talking about a 14-year-old girl who's still growing and whose body is changing. It's silly to think anything else after watching her for the past two or three months.

"She has a lot going for her."

But the athlete herself is only interested in taking one fast-paced stride at a time.

"People tell me if I continue to work and improve I could be an Olympian," she said.

"At this stage, I don't even think about that. Right now I just want to work hard and try to do the very best I can."

And Arantxa isn't her sporting parents' only progeny to be going great guns on the US sports circuit.

Older sister Akilah, a senior, is an outstanding runner who is now the star centre for the high school basketball team, although like her sister did play soccer for father Adrian, Medford's girls soccer coach.