Stephanie McKenzie, who trains with Falkirk Victoria Harriers, has been selected for the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes scheme – which aims to plug the financial gap for 250 emerging athletes in the run up to London 2012.

The 18-year-old is currently the Scottish under-20 champion and finished sixth at the England U20 championships in June, before setting a new personal best of 3.65m in Wishaw a month later.

However, as only British No. 1 Kate Dennison travelled to the Beijing Games, the race is on to fill the GB vest in 2012.

Despite the cash injection, though, Stephanie revealed the opportunity to receive one-on-one mentoring from Lloyds ambassador, and British Olympian, Jonathan Edwards excited her most about the Local Heroes Scheme.

"I would love to be able to chat to someone like Jonathan Edwards and just find out things like how athletes manage their time," said Stephanie, who now attends Edinburgh University.

"For someone like me it's important because I'm doing a degree and trying to become a top athlete as well.

"Both need a lot of focus and each is important to me so it would be great to speak to someone who has had that experience and find out the best way of doing it.

"The money is great as well – it pays for my travel and my equipment. The fewer things I have to worry about aside from the jumping the better.

"It means I can be totally focused on progressing all the way to the big ones.

"London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 would be amazing events to be part of but I have a lot of work to do before then."

Former Olympic and World Champion Edwards, who still holds the triple jump world record, is certainly predicting a golden future for the former Graeme High pupil.

"There is a lot of money in sport now through the National Lottery but Stephanie is not quite good enough just yet to take advantage," he said.

"She still makes a huge commitment in time and money in order to do what she does, though, and doesn't get a lot back. But this relieves a bit of pressure and gives her a boost.

"Sport can be lonely so when someone comes along and believes in you enough to give you £1000 it makes you realise you could make it after all."

Lloyds TSB are providing up to £1000 to 250 emerging young sportspeople identified each year across Britain in the run up to London 2012 and beyond. Visit the website www.lloydstsb.com/localheroes for more details.