Olympic hopeful Lamont Marshall has the makings of a world-class athlete.That’s the opinion of past World Marathon Champion, Douglas Wakiihuri, who has personally offered his services and expertise to help the top local distance runner take his game to the next level training in his native Kenya.“If he is willing to come down to Kenya I would offer all the assistance he will need,” Wakiihuri said. “I can get him accommodation, hook him up with the best coaches in Kenya, show him around and get him to meet some of the best runners in Kenya and also train with him a bit.“I will definitely have a word with him and see how he responds to that.”Wakiihuri, who also won a silver medal for Kenya at the 1988 Olympics, reckons Marshall’s form and technique can only gain from exposure to the high level of competition that abundantly exists in his country of birth.“I think if he can mix up with some Kenyan runners he can get the feel and know exactly where he is because Kenyan runners are the best,” he said. “I know that when he trains in Kenya he is definitely going to come back with a better understanding, better strength and speed and better ways of probably attacking the races.”Wakiihuri believes that Marshall will also benefit from running in higher altitudes in Kenya.“We have a great training environment and coming to Kenya he is going to be subjected from being a sea level athlete to a high altitude athlete,” he said. “Coming to Kenya will force his body to change to adapt to high altitude pressure of running very fast with the thin air.“His body will have to adjust to that and definitely after some time he will see some changes in his running and performances. This would make him a better athlete and that’s what we are hoping for.”Wakiihuri got to observe Marshall’s potential up close and personal during last weekend’s Fairmont to Fairmont Road Race. Marshall led the field home in 40 minutes and 14 seconds followed by Wakiihuri who finished in second some 39 seconds off the lead pace.“I think he has the talent and right now he has done a bit of the mileage,” Wakiihuri noted. “But I think this is the time now that he has to switch to the track sessions.“The 1500 is a pretty quick event that needs strength, speed and endurance at the same time if you can be able to execute it within a short time.”Marshall has set his sights on qualifying for the upcoming Olympics in the UK, a feat Wakiihuri believes the Bermudian is more than capable of achieving.“He has no choice because he has the talent and if he is going to finish his career without being an Olympian then that is going to go down in history in a different manner,” the Kenyan said.“I think he’s probably just looking at qualifying for the Olympics, which he might do. But Lamont getting to the final I think would be something really great for Bermuda itself. This would set off a chain reaction with other young Bermudians looking to do the same or better than him.”Marshall, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, currently holds national records in the 10,000, 5,000 and 3,000 metres which he established within a 40-day span last year.Last year also saw the top athlete finish runner up behind former US track star Chris Estwanik in the Bermuda Day Half Marathon and represent the Island at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Puerto Rico, where he placed sixth in the 5,000 and 11th in the 1500 metres.