A week after finishing second to the runner who has the 15th fastest time in the world this year, Bermuda?s Olympic hopeful in the women?s 800 metres, Tamika Williams, will tomorrow line up in another prominent field in her quest to qualify for Athens.

The 25-year-old will participate in the Occidental Games in Los Angeles, having last week finished just behind winner Frances Satin and ahead of California runner Andrea Morgan, who placed third ? Morgan has the 20th fastest time in the world this year.

Williams, who turned in a time of 2.04.40 to break her existing Bermuda record over the distance, has to meet an Olympic qualifying time of 2.01.30.

?I let Satin get too far ahead at the beginning and by the time I started my kick at the end it was a little too late. There is a lot of strategy and luck involved in running the 800 metres and I?m trying to piece it all together,? said Williams going into her next meet.

She added: ?My fitness is there and I have a much greater aerobic base than I have had in the past. I increased my average mileage by almost ten miles and since I graduated from the teaching credential programme at San Francisco State in December I have been able to focus on my running thanks to my parents? financial support.?

Bermuda?s other middle distance runner Ashley Couper will not race this weekend. Her next big meet is expected to be the Oracle US Open on May 31.