AT 16 years-old, Staffordshire Moorlands Athletics Club (SMAC) runner Jon Turnock already boasts an impressive athletics CV.

With a string of North Staffs Cross Country and 1,500m titles at local, school and county level, Turnock has emerged as an athlete of considerable talent.

In the past year, Turnock has already claimed two 1,500m track titles at county level and took the Midlands Track and Field 1,500m title and finished fifth at the National finals.

As an under-17 runner, Turnock is now ranked in the top 20 in the UK for 1,500m with a time of 4:03.97.

And the 16-year-old has ambitions to progress even further.

He said: "I just want to keep going and eventually be the best in England."

Turnock rates this year's Midlands Track and Field 1,500m title as his biggest achievement to date.

He added: "I was really pleased with that. When you have put the work in, it is good to think you are up there."

And though the prospect of London 2012 is beginning to loom large, the SMAC runner is keeping his feet on the ground.

"It would be good to get there, but it is a long way off," said Turnock. "You have to face things one step at a time. There's a fine line between whether you make it or not. With the Olympics, you can never be sure."

Next up for Turnock are the Uttoxeter Cross Country Championships this weekend, closely followed by the Sutton Park National Road Relays.

And SMAC multi-event coach Dave Owen, who has worked with Turnock for the past six years, is confident that the youngster is capable of helping a Staffs Moorlands AC take the team title in Uttoxeter and medal at Sutton Park.

He said: "Jon is an exceptionally-talented athlete and well respected by his fellow team members and by athletes from clubs all over the region.

"Jon trains with 100 per cent conviction and has the toughness of character that will see him go to the top of his sport.

"Athletes need a network of support to make it in the sport and Jon's family must also take credit for his achievements, as their unstinting support and dedication to Jon's running have helped to make him, not only a tremendous prospect for the future, but also a fine young man to be around."

Turnock became involved in athletics from a young age.

He joined Staffs Moorlands Athletic Club at the age of 10 after performing well in school races for Woodhouse Middle School, in Biddulph.

Initially under the guidance of coach Pete Martin, the youngster had some notable early successes as an under-11 athlete, winning the North Staffs Cross-County title, coming second in the Cheshire League and taking an impressive bronze in the Staffordshire Schools' Championships.

In the under-13s age group, Turnock was coached by Paul Fowler and Dave Owen and he claimed some impressive titles, including the 1,500m Schools Athletics Championship, 1,500m Inter-county Track and Field Championships and Uttoxeter Cross Country Championships.

When it became obvious to officials at SMAC that Turnock had the potential to succeed at the highest level, Owen and SMAC founder member and former world cross country champion Roy Fowler took over his coaching.

Fowler became actively involved with mentoring the intermediate boys' team and his influence on the group and committed training techniques helped Turnock win nine titles in the under 15s section.

These included gold in the Staffordshire County Championships at 1500m on the track and the Staffs County Cross Country title.

Turnock also gained his third successive North Staffs XC title and was picked to represent Staffordshire at the Inter-Counties Fixture and the English Schools Championships.

At this point Turnock was picked to join the Midlands Regional Endurance Squad Programme that supports and mentors the region's top junior athletes towards national performance standards – and ultimately UK representation at the Olympics.

And with the spectre of London 2012 looming large, Turnock could well be in the frame for representing his country in the 1,500m.