For Bermuda's track stars, timing is everything.

Neither Ashley Couper, Tamika Williams nor Xavier James are entertaining thoughts of standing on the podium come the end of their respective events at the Pan-Am Games.

Just bettering their fastest times would be achievement enough.

Couper is competing in the 1500 metres while Williams tackles the 800 metres and James the 100 and 200 metres.

Couper is arguably the form athlete of the trio, having landed CAC gold in Grenada only recently.

Speaking at the athletes' village yesterday, Couper said her workouts since CAC had gone "really, really well" and she could not wait to put her ability to the test once again.

"I really want to PR (personal record), to go under 4.18," she said. "But you never know what's going to happen on the day. There's always little things that can happen. But if I have a good race and everything goes smoothly, I really feel like I'm ready to go under 4.18."

Couper's moment of truth will come on Thursday in a straight final at the Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo.

"I think (a medal) is probably unlikely, but you can never really know," she said. "I'm ready to run fast and will go as fast as I can and even if I'm last and I've run my fastest time I will be happy."

Williams, who is a member of the same California-based Nike Farm team as Couper, said she was feeling great, thanks in part to a surprise she received as she set off.

"I got the biggest surprise of my life when my mom met me at the airport and got on the plane with me," she said. "I knew my dad was coming but that was a real surprise. So things are going well for me and I'm in really good spirits."

At the time of writing it was unclear whether the 800 metres would be over two rounds or whether, like Couper's discipline, would be a straight final.

Williams is not too bothered either way.

"I think I've definitely prepared to run two rounds but whatever happens I don't really mind," she said. "I look at that if it's a straight final then it's an extra two days rest for me.

"But if I get to run (today) then it's a chance to get the jitters out and see what the competition is before going into the final." As with Couper it's all about the clock for Williams.

"I'm definitely looking for a time," she said. "If I came last and ran a 2:02 I would be excited. But at the same time I'm definitely going to have to be competitive if I am to achieve that."

James, meanwhile, sees this meet as a chance to erase some bad memories from earlier in the season.

"I am happy to be here," he said before his 100 metre heat today.

"I just want to run fast. I have had a rough year but I think I can put it together for this meet.

"A good performance would definitely be a good finale to this year.

"I'm not going to medal, no way, but if I get a good time I'll be happy.

"Next year is the Olympic year and so all these heats and finals are getting me prepared for that."

Since competing at CAC, James has been to Canada and taken part in a number of meets.

"I got two or three different meets in with heats and finals and I'm feeling pretty positive," he said.

Asked if he was where he wanted to be coming into the Pan-Ams, James said: "I'll let you know tomorrow. I don't know what I'm going to run. All I want to do is run faster than CAC and faster than the fastest time I have run this season (10.70 in Tampa).

"I'm ready, ready to run."