NESTL Rowntree's rising 400metres star Richard Buck is being groomed for medal success at the 2008 Olympics.

Buck, 16, is the current AAAs and English Schools' Under-17 champion and his performances over the last year have earned him a place on the UK Athletics' World Class Potential Program.

That means the Pickering speed king has been recognised as one of 100 youngsters aged between 16 and 21 capable of winning a place on the podium at future World Championships and Olympic Games.

And Buck's new performance coach Brad McStravick believes the Lady Lumley's School pupil has the natural talent to reach the very top.

McStravick, who will closely monitor Buck having identified his potential in Yorkshire's regional squad, said: "I think he has the ability to be an outstanding athlete and he has good genes because his mother was an international sprinter. Once in a while, an athlete comes along and you think he has something pretty special and Richard falls into that category.

"The World Class Potential Program is aimed at young athletes that could win medals at major championships in six years' time. Having seen him train and compete, I can see there's a hell of a lot more to come from Richard in the next couple of years, providing he can stay injury-free, which hopefully will be the case with all the support and advice the Program will give him."

Buck is already the fourth fastest Great Britain U17 400m runner of all time after clocking 47.71 seconds to win the AAA Championships in a record time.

He is also the second fastest English Schools' champion behind international ace Mark Richardson, who set the record back in 1988.

Buck's mother Karen is perhaps one explanation for his success.

She won the 100m English Schools' title in 1980 and has held the Yorkshire 200m record for 23 years.

But Richard is also trained by his grandfather Geoff Baraclough who, in conjunction with McStravick's input, will continue to coach the World Class Potential Program pupil at Huntington Stadium.

The Program, however, will provide Buck with medical insurance cover for possible scans and operations, as well as access to physio and massage treatment.

Money will be also be provided towards the cost of training kit, equipment such as heart rate monitors and dumbbells, and travelling to training and competitions.

And there will be regular meetings over the next two years with nutritionists, sports psychologists and sports scientists as the Program aims to prepare Buck for future international competition.

"He is going to get a level of support that will help him achieve the targets we set for athletes on the Program," McStravick said. "No stone is left overturned in that pursuit."

Britain's senior coaches will also be hoping that Buck can resurrect the flagging fortunes of 400m running in this country after a brief barren spell following the heroics of Roger Black, Richardson, Jamie Baulch and Iwan Thomas in recent years.

McStravick said: "There has been a bit of a lull in 400m running. There are a lot of people running 46 and 46.5 seconds but there's only Danny Caines running exceptionally fast.

"There is a whole squad of 46-second runners, though, that are getting quite competitive and could spur each other on to faster times."

Do not be surprised if it's York's young Buck that is hot on Caines' heels very soon.

Updated: 10:55 Saturday, October 04, 2003