Vernicha takes heart from rebel alliance

The woman was Regis' girlfriend and 1992 Olympic 4x400m bronze medallist Jennifer Stoute, although possibly better known to Vernicha's generation as 'Rebel' from the television show Gladiators.

'Rebel' would have been an appropriate monicker for the headstrong James. She said: "I used to be really rude. If someone stepped up to me to say something, I'd just attack. I'd just start fighting."

Luckily, Stoute agreed to visit James and the two hit it off immediately. "In the beginning, I spoke to her a lot about school," recalls Stoute. "She was very aggressive, but it was the only way she knew how to express herself. I tried to get Vernicha to understand what was happening in these fights. She did it to stay popular. But afterwards it was always her who got into trouble, no-one else."

That tough, aggressive side is a vital weapon in James's armoury now it is being channelled in the right direction. Stoute now has taken a back seat in her development and James is coached at Crystal Palace by Ayo Fayola, best known for his work with 400m runner Donna Fraser. But Stoute's management company continue to represent James and she was there when the youngster won in Manchester on Sunday in 22.95 seconds.

Among Stoute's other clients, who often throw a protective arm around James, is Dwain Chambers, Britain's team captain this week. The "Finsbury Flyer" is the favourite to win the 100m and help Britain's men finish in the top two and ensure qualification for September's World Cup Final in Madrid.

James has also shown her potential over 100m and earlier this month won a Grand Prix event in 11.40secs, quicker than Katharine Merry ran as a teenager.

Merry could testify to the perils of treading a long-term path as a teenage track-and-field prodigy. She made the British senior team at 15 but took the best part of a decade truly to start fulfilling her youthful potential. Only time will tell if James will suffer similar struggles.

There's still a void in British sprinting. "We've been looking for the next Kathy Cook for 20 years," said Merry, referring to the woman whose outdoor UK 100m record has survived since 1981. "Vernicha is a prodigious talent, but technically I can see she has lots of scope to improve. I want to see her run well, and take away every record I've held. Hopefully she won't switch to the 400m until I've retired."

Stoute is determined that James will not burn out which is why she will not be allowed to run the 200m at the Commonwealth Games next month. That event is sandwiched between the World Junior Championships in Jamaica and the European Championships in Munich.

"I'll do the relay in Manchester but not the 200m," said James. "It's too close to the world juniors' and I'll be tired after travelling back from Kingston. I want to do the 200m in Munich, but I'll have to discuss that with my coach."