challenge by Troy Douglas of Bermuda to beat his Commonwealth 400 metres rival at last night's Times Colonist International Track Classic.

Douglas, beaten by Morris in Vancouver on Monday, burst out of the lane four blocks quickly and caught Morris, running in lane five, after only 100 metres.

But the experienced Morris met Douglas' burst and finished strongly to take the tape in 46 seconds flat. Douglas was second in 46.59 while Troy Jackson of Canada was third in 47.46.

"The plan was to get a lead, maintain it and maybe hold him off at the finish,'' Douglas said. "But it didn't work. I think I went out too fast.'' Morris, ranked seventh in the world over 400 metres last year and the early favourite for next year's Commonwrealth Games gold medal, agreed. "When he caught up to me so early I told myself, `Don't panic, let's see what he can do'. At 250 metres I decided to make my move and Troy didn't come with me.'' Douglas, the defending chamnpion and meet record-holder at both of this week's competitions, paid tribute to his 33-year-old rival who boasts a personal best time of 44.02. "He's brilliant, a great runner who doesn't get the recognition he deserves because he isn't American.'' Morris, citing the African runners as his main competition for Commonwealth gold next year, said Douglas must conquer a psychological barrier if he is to join the elite few who will contend for top honours in Victoria a year from now.

"Troy runs very well a lot of the time, but his problem is not running under 45 seconds,'' said Morris, a 400 metres finalist at the Barcelona Olympics.

"He has the potential to run under 45, but something in his mind stops him.

He's definitely a 44 second runner and he must figure out what's stopping him from doing it.'' Douglas today leaves Canada for his training base in Arizona before heading to Europe to run on the Grand Prix circuit. His first meet is in France on June 11.

"By the time I get to Paris, I'll be much better than this,'' he promised.

"I've been training hard for two months and psychologically I needed two races like this under my belt. When the real stuff kicks in over in Europe, I'll be ready.'' TROY DOUGLAS.