Teenage sprinter Jeneko Place has the capacity to become a world class athlete provided he does not get distracted by other temptations, believes his coach Xavier James.

Place is Bermuda's best bet for a medal at this week's CAC Junior Championships as he looks to add to the pair of silvers he scooped in the 100 and 200 metres at the Carifta Games earlier this year.

The 16-year-old, who has already qualified for the World Youth Championships, is currently ranked tenth in the world in his age category and James, a former Olympic sprinter, believes the only person who can prevent his protégé reaching sprint stardom is Place himself.

"He still has a lot to learn. Consistency is going to be the key. Once he finds that he'll be ready for the big guns," said James, son of PLP MP and former national team cricketer El James.

"I believe right now he is on track to be world class and turn professional.

"He's got a good training environment, a good coaching structure, but 90 percent of it depends on whether he has the discipline and dedication to take it to the next level. Everybody can want it for him, but if he doesn't want it for himself he will remain an amateur for the rest of his life.

"He's at that tricky age when youngsters often get distracted by other things and I've seen many good athletes leave the sport for good. If Jeneko makes it through this age then I think he can do it."

Place is not the only athlete from James' sprint stable who will be competing in the Dominican Republic at the CAC Juniors. Victoria Clarke (100m and 200m), Scott Clarke (100m and 200m) and Jerquan Simons (100m) will join Place on international duty and James has high hopes for the talented quartet.

"I'm looking for good things from all those guys," said James, "Jerquan will burst on the scene pretty soon. He's been doing some excellent things in training.

"He's big, strong and he's ready. He's a real diamond in the rough and other than Jeneko, he's the next force to be reckoned with.

"If he can get to the Under-20 finals that will be a great achievement."

Bermuda track and field is enjoying somewhat of a renaissance this season with the Island winning ten medals at the Carifta Games in the Cayman Islands, while Aaron Evans and Arantxa King both claimed podium finishes at the NCAA Championships. James attributes the sport's revival largely to the hard work of the local coaches and the consensus style of leadership adopted by Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) president Donna Watson.

"I think a lot more coaches are being allowed to coach now. That's been the biggest change under Donna. Before I felt there was more of a dictatorship," he said.

"We have a lot of coaches in Bermuda and I really believe the sport is on the up. I work for these athletes, they have hired me to do a job and have trusted their careers in my hands."

Bermuda's athletes leave the Island today for the CAC Junior Championships which run from Friday until Sunday.

Bermuda's CAC Juniors squad

Under-17 girls

Shuntae Hendrickson – 800m, 1200m

Akeila Richardson – triple jump

Victoria Clarke – 100m, 200m

Tyra Stovell – long jump, 100m, 200m

Under-20 girls

Ashley Berry 1500m, 3000m

Alison Outerbridge – triple jump

Taylor Ashley-Bean – 1500m, 3000m

Under-17 boys

Juma Mouchette – 1500m, 3000m

Kameron Creighton – 3000m

Jeneko Place – 100m, 200m, 4X100m

Dage Minors – 1500m

Scott Clarke – 100m, 200m, 4X100m

Blaine Simmons – long jump, 4X100m

Christian Wright – long jump, triple jump 4X100m

Under-20 boys

Henry Stevens-Carty – 800m

Tristan Joynes – 110m hurdles

Shaquille Dill – 800m

Jerquan Simmons – long jump, 100m