With a successful year under his belt -- one in which he was finally able to see how he could perform against the world's best at the Commonwealth Games -- Armstrong is now setting his sights on his biggest challenge yet.

He'll be lining up against another glittering crop of overseas runners tonight, hoping to improve on a fourth place finish in 1994 when he clocked 4:17.8 to become the first Bermudian to cross the finish line.

It'll be the start of a busy weekend for Armstrong, who is also pencilled in for tomorrow's 10K and Sunday's half marathon.

The 23-year-old has been hard at work ever since returning home from his university studies in New Jersey a few weeks ago, bringing former Rider University team-mate Greg Cieslik to Bermuda to help him train.

But on the eve of his latest Mile challenge, Armstrong slept in, planned to see his family in Smith's and "you know, watch a movie or something.'' Armstrong, who made the switch from Rider to Trenton State College last fall, was something of a human highlight film in 1994 while in New Jersey.

Named Rider male athlete of the year in 1994, Armstrong graduated with ten conference gold medals and competed on seven conference championships in his four years at the school.

When Rider coach Ed Roskiewicz was asked what his biggest problem would be this year, he said: "Overcoming the loss of Terrance Armstrong.'' Armstrong made the move to Trenton, a few miles down the road from Rider, because "I got offered a coach and they're paying for my graduate work.'' The Bermudian is chasing a masters degree in sports administration, but he's also pursuing a few other things.

"I'm looking for a healthy season, a prosperous season,'' he said yesterday.

"Something that would be a fulfilment of my hard work and dedication.'' Armstrong is also hoping to win a ticket to Argentina, where he'd like a shot at the 1,500 metres steeplechase event in the Pan-Am Games.

"My dream is to go to the Olympics,'' he said later. "That's what I'm gunning for right now, to prove to Bermuda that I'm still out there, keeping myself physically fit and just to let them know that I'm still in action.'' Local road running fans will get their first glimpse of him tonight, in his first major competition since his disappointing finish in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria last summer.

"It was the sort of year where I got my feet wet in international competition,'' said Armstrong. "I didn't do as well as I wanted, but it was a chance to get the exposure.'' The biggest lesson he learned, however, was that "the competition is really tough. You can't look at it from coming out of school and winning mostly every race and thinking you're pretty good.

"When you get to international competition you're going to lose a few and you've got to keep your head up and you've got to keep going. And I want to be that much better.'' Although Armstrong would like to improve on his Mile time from 1994, he's putting more attention on tomorrow's 10K.

"I'm approaching the 10K a little different this year. Usually I just go out and run it.'' His game plan for the 10K is to "go out quick.'' Does he think he can win it? "Oh, no, not in terms of winning,'' he said. "I would like to run close to 31 minutes or under, and that's a pretty fast time.

"It's just a matter of putting my stuff together and having faith in myself.'' Later he said: "You know, sometimes you do surprise yourself. If I surprise myself (tonight) I'll be very happy.'' Terrance Armstrong