Barring a couple of last-minute additions, a team of only seven athletes will represent Bermuda in the biggest track and field meet of the year.

Two days of trials at the National Track and Field Championships over the weekend failed to produce the type of scintillating performance needed for a handful of runners and jumpers to qualify for the Central American and Caribbean championships in Puerto Rico later this month.

But there were a couple of close calls and it remains to be seen whether Xavier James, who won the 100 metres and Sheldon Thompson, who took the 800 metres, will get a special exemption when the Bermuda Track and Field Association selection committee meets tonight.

While their times failed to meet the qualifying standard, James and Thompson have been consistent enough in their efforts to perhaps warrant the trip, BTFA vice president Bob Oliver said last night.

Tracy Wright, another of those on the bubble, pretty much lost his chance at qualifying when he posted a time of 33 minutes and 16 seconds in the 10,000 metres last night -- less than 12 hours after he ran in the Pure Water/Tropicana 10K road race yesterday morning.

A somewhat sheepish Wright conceded he made a mistake when he opted to run two important 10Ks on the same day. But while he would have produced a better time on the National Stadium track last night had he not run in the morning, he said he wouldn't have met the 31:30 standard.

"I know I can do it; it's just a matter of time,'' he said.

Wright only intended to "jog'' the morning's 10K to get rid of stiffness and tightness "but I got caught up in the race and ended up expending a lot more energy than I wanted,'' he said.

He finished third in 35:45, more than two minutes behind surprising newcomer Nick Ward in second place. Kavin Smith, in his first race since shattering the Marathon Derby record two weeks ago, won in 32:03. Karen Adams took the women's division in 40:45, 18th overall.

Smith, who has already qualified for the CAC championships in the half-marathon, was also on hand last night for the 10,000 metres. His role, however, was merely to keep Wright on pace for a spot on the team.

And for the first 5,000 metres, he did. But Wright began labouring with a stiff back and Smith pulled off for a couple of laps before rejoining the effort with 13 laps to go. Wright was at 26:30 with five laps left and 32:02 on the bell.

"It was an experience,'' said Wright, second behind Smith in the Marathon Derby. "I didn't go out that hard (in the 10K) and I didn't feel tired after the race. But next time I think I'll rest in the morning.'' As for James, a chance to represent his country would be the icing on a year that has seen him come out of nowhere to become one of the Island's top sprinters.

Now 21, James only took up running seriously three months ago and in that time he's lopped nearly a full second off his time. Yesterday, he produced a hand-held time of 10.9 seconds, considerably poorer than the 10.7 he's been reeling off this spring, but enough to win the 100 metres.

"Right now I'm just learning the sport -- tactics, breathing and running style -- correcting my faults and developing a foundation to build on,'' said James.

He'll get a long look from the BTFA, as will Thompson, who clocked a 1:57 in the 800 metres in windy conditions on Saturday. The time was just shy of the 1:55 needed and slower than what he has been producing of late.

It was instead a weekend dominated by the youngsters. Said national track and field coach Gerry Swan: "There were a number of exciting, spirited performances.'' Complete 10K results, Page 24 SPEED DEMON -- Xavier James (second from left) continued to make a name for himself when he easily won yesterday's 100-metre final at the National Track and Field Championships.