Tobias targets thunder Bolt

Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow AC's Deji Tobias has set his sights on reaching the very top of Athletics after setting a new 100m UK School Games record at the weekend.

The 16-year-old, who is unbeaten in the 100m at under 17 all season, clocked a highly impressive 10.68 seconds to pip defending champion William Ife to gold at the showpiece annual event at the University of Bath.

Tobias' display will have Britain's underperforming Olympic sprinters looking ominously over their shoulders as the countdown to London 2012 begins in earnest.

But the Sharnbrook College pupil insists he will not be content with simply pulling on the Team GB vest and is targeting Jamaican triple-Olympic champion Usain Bolt's world record dash of 9.69secs in the coming years.

"It feels really good at the moment, I had no idea that it would feel this good to win a gold medal here and it is great to be champion for once," he said. "The event was amazing because I have had the chance to be with other sprinters and people from other sports.

"I was watching the action in Beijing and it is a dream to go to the Olympic Games but it doesn’t come easy or cheap. I will have to work hard for it and be dedicated - you have to take it a year at a time.

"Usain Bolt has changed the sport for the better because the sprints haven't had a good reputation lately so if he is clean, which I think he is, it will do a lot for the sport.

"I look up to him, he isn't a hero but I will definitely use him as an example to better myself and one day maybe break his record."

Tobias has been in untouchable form all season, unbeaten in his age group and ranked No.1 in the UK in the 100m under-17 category. And the sprinting starlet has grand designs on making the step up to the international stage in the near future.

"The next major competition is the Commonwealth Youth Games but I have the National Junior Final in Manchester and the Young Athletes Final in Derby and this will be a massive confidence boost for those," he added. "I feel like I can do well because I will the opportunity to race with runners my age and older people too so that will bring lots more experience for me."

- The Youth Sport Trust organises the UK School Games to help transform sport for young people and create volunteering opportunities at major events. The Legacy Trust UK supports cultural and sporting activities that celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to leave a lasting legacy and is a funding partner for the Games.