Long jumper Tyrone Smith should have an extra spring in his step as he strives to qualify for next month's World Championships with the legendary Brian Wellman now acting as his mentor.

The multiple Olympian will be advising Smith at this week's International Track Grand Prix in Bogotá, Colombia, as his young pretender attempts to reach the magical 8.05 metre qualifying mark.

Smith knows the sand in his egg timer is ebbing away as the deadline to reach the Championships in Berlin closes in, but believes Wellman's presence in South America will provide him with the leap of faith he needs.

"I'm feeling right on the bubble at the moment and I'm very confident I can jump 8.05 in Columbia," said Smith, who will be joined in Bogotá by fellow Bermudian athlete Shianne Smith. "My coach Tom Tellez won't be able to attend the meet so I will look to Brian and my training partner for any technical advice."

American-raised Smith admits he knew little about Wellman's esteemed achievements before being approached by the Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) to represent his birth country in 2006.

But he has since vigorously researched Wellman's decorated triple jump career and having met the man he hopes to emulate, Smith now holds him as one of his biggest inspirations.

"When Bermuda first came calling I knew absolutely nothing about Bermudian athletes," said Smith. "But when I started doing my research the names of Brian Wellman and Nicky Saunders kept on popping up.

"I first met Brian at the national championships last year and I also spent time talking to him at a recent meet in Arkansas where he gave some advice and offered me great support. The two athletes I look up to the most are Brian Wellman and American long jumper Dwight Phillips who I train alongside."

Like Wellman before him, Smith's quest for success has been made all the more challenging due to lack of financial support, with the Houston-based 24-year-old having to fund his shoestring campaign for London 2012 Olympics on the commission he earns as a car salesman.

Having to swap his tracksuit for a shirt and tie is a source of frustration for Smith and at times he is even forced to cut short training sessions to put in shifts in the Audi showroom.

"I try not to let the car dealership interfere with my training but of course it's inevitable at times," said Smith, who represented Bermuda at the Beijing Olympics. "Luckily I'm doing well at the moment and my commission is good.

"The Bermuda Track and Field Association always go into bat for me when it comes to funding and the Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) will be restructuring their funding programme soon.

"I know there are athletes worse off than me and Brian would have received less funding than me and yet he achieved so much. He became one of the world's very best despite having such limited resources and therefore he's a great source of inspiration for me."

Smith will compete at the International Track Grand Prix from Friday July 23 to Sunday July 26.