Terrence Armstrong, will help give Bermuda one of their strongest teams ever if attempts to secure them for the CAC Cross-Country Championships in Mexico in February are successful.

The Bermuda Track and Field Association will be looking into this possibility immediately after the Christmas holidays when they plan to assemble as many as 10 of the best male cross-country runners from their series this year and have them train for possible selection.

BTFA Vice President Lee Tucker yesterday reckoned that a Bermuda team headed by Kavin Smith would lay a claim to one of three spots secured for CAC's countries to qualify for the prestigious World Cross-Country Championships scheduled for South Africa in March.

"If Jay and Terrence are available then our team could really make a serious bid to finish among the top three, beating out Jamaica and Puerto Rico who were just ahead of us last year,'' said Tucker.

"Jay has recently indicated an interest, but he returns to school during the first week in January and his availability is the big question. We haven't talked to Terrence in a while, but on a previous occasion he was keen and we hope his position hasn't changed.'' In February at the CAC Cross-Country Championships at Belmont, Bermuda's team which included Tracy Wright and Mike Watson romped home fourth behind winners Mexico, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.

Other in the six-man team were Harry Patchett, Roger Dill, Jamal Hart and Winton Woodley.

Aside from the two college students and Smith, Bermuda's team this year could also include the likes of Wright, Patchett, Hart, Calvin Steede and Colin Swan. Watson, Dill and Woodley haven't been involved much in road running this season and consequently their inactivity will probably make them ineligible for selection this time around.

"But you never know, maybe somebody will come out of the blue with a couple of good times within a short span and force us to consider them,'' said Tucker.

Officials will ask the Bermuda team to be fully committed to training in order to be prepared for challenges at the high altitude in Mexico.

"We are hoping that they will have something like six to eight weeks to work together and try to adapt a team atmosphere as they prepare for the huge challenge ahead,'' said BTFA president Stan Douglas of the locally based athletes they plan to assemble shortly.

Tucker said that hopefully the athletes will be even more inspired by having the opportunity to compete in South Africa with the CAC representation at the World Championships having been increased from two to three for next year.

While the prospects of the Bermuda men's team having a legitimate chance in Mexico has the BTFA on a high, they are not too optimistic about being able to assemble a Bermuda women's team for the same championships.

Jennifer Fisher has been the only consistently active female on the local cross-country scene running regularly this season and Tucker concedes that the likelihood of Bermuda being represented in that category doesn't look good at this stage.

"Financial constraints may prevent us from trying to send a female team as well, but it's possible that somebody like Jennifer can go as an individual and compete. I think the Cayman Island and another country sent individuals to run here this year, so maybe Bermuda would have some type of representation in that division in a similar way,'' said Tucker.

"But we are upbeat and if everything works out the new year could be good for Bermuda as far as cross country is concerned.'' TERRENCE ARMSTRONG -- Could be in Bermuda's CAC cross-country team