has qualified for the NCAA Division III National Championships in the 55-metre dash after a winning time of 7.07 seconds at the Tiger Open Indoor Track Meet at Clemson University on the weekend.

The young Bermudian's time was actually faster than the winning time in last year's national championship race. She surpassed the qualifying standard of 7.32 seconds two other times during the meet, first during the trials when she won her heat and also when she won her section of the final in 7.15 seconds.

Fletcher's performance earned her an automatic berth in the NCAAs to be held at Bowdine College in March. In addition she also led three other team-mates in meeting qualifying standards for the Mason Dixon Championships.

"It's definitely a pleasant surprise to qualify in the first meet of the year and to have such a good time,'' said Fletcher.

Coach Mark Adams was also pleased with Fletcher's achievement. "The most exciting thing about her qualifying this early is that it's her reward for the long, hard hours that she puts in at practice,'' said Adams.

"She is reaping the fruits of her dedication and her success has inspired her team-mates.'' The three other members of the team also qualified for the Mason Dixon Championships were Kera Green, Tammy Crawford and Nysha Cosom with Green and Crawford just missing NCAA standards. Green's time of 59.37 in the 400 metres meets the provisional standard but does not guarantee her a place in the NCAA meet while Crawford's long jump of 17 feet, three inches was four inches short of the standard.

The Mason Dixon meet will be held on February 14 at Virginia Tech.