St Mary's University student Steph Twell has the potential to break Paula Radcliffe's British 5,000m record, according to coach Mick Woods.

The 18-year-old was named in the GB squad for the Beijing Olympics at the weekend, despite only recently proving her recovery from a stress fracture in her spine that sidelined her for two months earlier this year.

Twell spent much of March and April cross training in a swimming pool in a bid to get her fit enough just to race this summer - nevermind ready to compete with the best senior athletes on earth in China.

But Woods, who has coached Twell since she was 10-years-old, reckons she now has every chance of following the same path that has taken Radcliffe to stardom by the time London 2012 is in her sights.

"She won the junior title but she hasn't actually run her best race of the season yet or shown the sort of form that suggest she could run as fast as she has," he said.

"I think from a long term view moving up through the range of events, it is clear she has a wide range of ability.

"There is no telling what she could actually achieve.

"But I certainly think we'd be looking at Steph running 5,000m and - if not in 2012 - after 2012 then being capable of attacking Paula's record."

Twell claimed the World Junior 1,500m title in Poland becoming Britain's only individual gold medalist at this year's championships and ran a personal best of 4.05.83 five-days later in Friday's IAAF meeting in Paris.

"It was something really special to me. There is always a lot of attention on the short distances so to win at an endurance event was overwhelming," added the rising star.

"Finding out I have been named in the Olympic team is a moment I will cherish all my life.

"I want to be able to go as far as possible in the competition, not be overwhelmed by it and learn from the experience."

The Aldershot-based star - who trains and studies in Twickenham - stands on the brink of a lucrative career in top flight athletics, but reckons it may never have happened had it not been for meeting Woods.

"I've always had a competitive edge at school sports day and I think athletics was my destiny really," she said.

"An athletics club was only 400m from my house and my dad - who was in the army and kept himself fit - wondered if I wanted to give it a try.

"It was fate to meet Mick. He has coached me since I was aged 10 and I wouldn't be the athlete I am today without him.

"We have grown and learnt so much together. It is what gets me to the finishing line quicker."

Twell is the latest athlete to enjoy success on the world junior stage following in the footsteps of former junior 100m world title holder Sutton's Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.

But she thinks the increased expectations likely to be placed on her will be a source of inspiration for Beijing and beyond to London 2012.

She added: "It does add pressure, but if you embrace it you can make it into a positive thing.

"You then have greater expectations of yourself and I think that helps you raise your game if you channel the energy correctly."