London 2012: 100m sprinter Adam Gemili aims to beat 10.08 seconds

Teenage 100m sprinter Adam Gemili says he can run "a lot quicker" than his personal best of 10.08 seconds.

The 18-year-old Londoner ran the Olympic A standard qualifying time earlier this month to give him hope of competing at the Olympics.

"I've got a new technique and if I keep improving the way I am, it could potentially be a lot quicker," he told BBC London.

"I'll get my head down and you never know what could happen."

He added: "I just need to keep progressing the way I have."

The time of 10.08secs made Gemili the second fastest European this year after France's Christophe Lemaitre, and just the second Briton to achieve the Olympic A standard this year, after James Dasaolu.

However the Blackheath and Bromley athlete faces a big decision over whether to compete at the British Olympic Trials, which are held next weekend.

The Birmingham meeting will be just a few days after Gemili bids to qualify for the World Junior Championships.

If he were to finish in the top two at the Olympic Trials, he would be selected for Team GB for the London Games.

"I'll still try and qualify for the World Juniors and go there," Gemili continued.

"It's more realistic to go there and do well.

"If my body is feeling OK, I could potentially go to the Olympic Trials.

"Going to the Olympics at 18 would be amazing. There would be nothing else that could replicate it."

Gemili only started full-time training at the Lee Valley Athletics Centre in October following time spent in the academies at football clubs Chelsea, Reading and Dagenham & Redbridge.

Given his relative lack of senior experience, Gemili's coach Michael Afilaka believes the teenager should not get ahead of himself.

"I think it's important he runs in his age group," Afilaka added. "Anything else after that is a bonus.

"We've got to sit down together as a team and with his parents and decide what we think is best going forward.

"It's important he goes through a developmental stage - not too much, too soon."

Afilaka believes Gemili has the potential to become a consistent performer in international competition.

"He can be very good," Afilaka continued. "The key is to develop that and maintain what he's got at the moment.

"He's got to be technically sound. From where's he's come from, he's done a lot of work to get to where he is.

"He's picked up a lot but there's still work to do.

"If managed properly, he could be around for a number of years at the very highest level.

"He's got the will to be able to do that. He needs to execute races properly, if the does that, the times will come.

"It is a journey that is worth being patient about."