Xavier James has pulled out of Bermuda's squad for the Central American and Caribbean Games next month, leaving the island without a single competitor in track and field.

The sprinter notified Bermuda Track and Field Association president Judith Simmons of his decision, news that was immediately passed on to the Bermuda Olympic Association.

"It's quite unfortunate that he cannot make it," `said Simmons. "He just didn't have sufficient time to train and get himself ready for the event after coming off an injury."

It was no secret that the 26-year-old sprinter was facing a race against time after picking up a serious ankle injury while playing soccer in Alabama last month, yet he remained optimistic of making a complete recovery until last week when he finally had to face up to facts.

James was hoping to run both the 100 metres and 200 metres in El Salvador in an effort to make amends for his disappointment at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England this summer when he turned in a modest time of 21.50 seconds in the second round of the 200 metres after having run a personal best of 21.04 in the first round.

This is probably the first occasion that Bermuda has sent a team to CAC without a single track and field competitor.

However, it appears that athletes from other countries are also finding themselves in a similar positions with Simmons yesterday indicating that the overall numbers were believed to be quite low compared to other years.

"It's a hard time for track and field athletes," she said. "There aren't that many entries because of the timing of the event and in Xavier's case the injury didn't help at all. The heart was willing but that was all.

"Athletes probably found the timing to their dislike because many are getting over injuries or either building themselves up for next year when we have many major events like the CAC Senior Championships, the Pan Am Games and the World Championships.

"It's no secret that athletes are gearing up for those festivals and I said from the very beginning that this event coming up at this time of the year would be very difficult for many of them."

The exit of James means that Bermuda will be represented in gymnastics, women's field hockey, squash, tennis, sailing and Tae Kwon Do.