athlete has been selected for next month's Pan-Am Games but not for the less significant although still prestigious CAC cross country championships.

How, on one hand can athletics' governing body, the BTFA, recommend Jennifer Fisher for the costly trip to Argentina but on the other not find room for her in an event being held in our own backyard? BTFA president Stanley Douglas' reasoning that team unity is of more importance than any individual's needs in explaining that Fisher had been omitted from tomorrow's event for failing to train with the rest of the squad, represents admirable theory.

But theory doesn't always translate into practice and as one adminstrator noted this week, "sometimes you can take logic to the extent that it becomes illogical.'' While training as a group under one coach -- in this case Gerry Swan -- might enhance team spirit and foster the type of track and field unity which Douglas is so genuinely eager to promote, it has to be remembered that cross country -- as with track and field, road running and athletics in general -- is not a team sport.

Those competing at Belmont tomorrow, while representing their countries, will not run as a team together but as individuals striving for individual excellence.

Any suggestion that Fisher might have improved under the supervision of Swan during the past month -- as requested by the BTFA -- makes little sense.

Fisher attained her current status as Bermuda's number one on a training schedule devised by herself and husband/coach Eddie. It obviously works as witnessed just last week by her record breaking 5K performance in a local road race.

In cross country this season her success was unprecedented. Seven races, seven wins -- it's difficult to top that! Stan Douglas, like so many, is a largely unrecognised, unpaid volunteer, and has done more for track and field on this Island than many realise. In his new found role as president, he's been a guiding light.

And it's difficult to criticise anyone who cares so passionately about the sport and gives so much free time to its organisation.

His was a tricky "damned if you do, damned if you don't'' decision, needing to show loyalty to those within the training squad, but at the same time ensuring that Bermuda was best represented.

But, in this case, some believe he and his selection committee have erred in judgement.

If Jennifer Fisher is good enough for the Pan-Am Games, she's good enough for CAC. Petty squabbling about under whom she should train has deflected from the main issue -- that being Bermuda's ability to field its best possible team.

At the end of the day it could cost Fisher and Bermuda a medal -- the likes of which we rarely garner from any international events, let alone those held on our own doorstep.

ADRIAN ROBSON