Sat on the track after his fellow competitors had left, Xavier James looked at the replay of his 200 metre heat on the jumbo screen trying to work out how he had failed to make it past the first round.

After missing out on the final of the 100 metres at the Pan-Am Games in the Dominican Republic, the Island sprinter had high hopes of at least making it through to the semi-finals of his favoured discipline.

However, once again, it was not to be for this highly likeable but seemingly badly out of form athlete.

Running in lane seven at the Olympic Stadium just before 10 a.m. Dominican time yesterday, James was under pressure before the race even started.

Included alongside him in heat two was US Olympian at the 4x100 metres and current world number 40 at the 200 metres, Kenny Brokenburr, and current world number 35 Claudinei Da Silva of Brazil, who won the event at the 1999 Games.

James appeared to get off to a decent enough start but looks are deceiving when an athlete is running out wide, and he came into the home straight bringing up the rear.

It was a position that he was not able to change and though his finish was no disgrace, the results, as in the 100 metres earlier in the week, still show that he was the last of the finishers to cross the line - Andres Gallegos of Ecuador failing to complete the event.

In fairness, it was a quick heat, with winner Brockenburr clocking 20.66. The fastest times from the remaining heats were all slower, but with so many runners in front of him there was never really any chance James, who crossed the line in 21.65 seconds, would clinch a fastest-loser spot.

His first words off camera after coming into the warm down area were “that hurt”. Whether he meant just physically or mentally and emotionally as well was not clear.

One thing you can say about James is that he never dodges a question as some other athletes who have found themselves in similar situations have in the past.

After catching his breath, he reflected on his race with his usual candour.

“I didn't make it through,” he said. “I guess I had a hard heat. I had the world champ, the US champ and a finalist at the Olympic Games in my heat.

“I came off the corner and I ran my race coming home but those guys ran a lot better.”

He denied the outside lane put him at a psychological disadvantage, saying “if I didn't have it someone else would have”.

“I was hurting,” he said. “I can't make any excuses. There are certain mistakes that I have made this year that have definitely affected my times.

“I haven't run this slow since 1999.”

“My confidence is there,” he went on. “I expected to make the semis, but that's what happens when you get a random lane draw. They put a lot of the fastest runners in the heat and there's nothing you can do. My heat was 20.66.”

Analysing why he is where he is and what he can do to arrest his decline, James said: “My training didn't go exactly how I wanted it to. The furthest I have gone is 250 metres and 250 metres doesn't really do much for me. I need my 300s and my 400s so that I can maintain through the last 40 metres of the 100 and 200 and accelerate.

“But next year is another year - an Olympic year. It's going to be a harder year. There's a lot I have to do. I am going to go back to the drawing board, take out my old notes, look at the programmes that have worked for me and just re-evaluate.”

One fact that James can use to spur him on as he seeks to recapture his form is that many of those who have inflicted the pain of the last few days on him have, in the past, trailed in his own dust.

“In the 100 metres, there was Mardy Scales from the US. He ran 10.22. About three, four or five of those guys, the last year before I came back to Bermuda, there was no way they could beat me,” he said. “I would go out to race and beat them all.

“In the 200 metres it was the same thing,” he said, pointing to those in his heat. “A lot of these guys, I was staying with them and even beating them.”

In what could be considered a criticism of the way track and field is run in Bermuda, James said preparation was the biggest difference between he and his rivals now.

“I guess being in the US has a lot to do with it,” he said. “Unfortunately, I am not able to have that luxury anymore. I have to work to make some money and provide a future. Government doesn't give you a pay cheque like the rest of the countries so you just have to take it as it goes. I am happy to be healthy and to be able to run.”

James heads off later this month for the World Student Games in Korea and in a perverse outlook believes his recent performances could be the kick up the backside he needs with 2004 just around the corner.

“It's good to get beat up the year before the Olympic Games because it's going to obviously elevate my training,” he said.