added incentive when they line up in Somerset for the start of Monday's Marathon Derby.

Bermuda Track and Field Association have designated the 13.3 mile road race as the final qualifying event for the half-marathon at this year's CAC Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

And if either Smith or Wright -- the most likely contenders -- or any other Bermudian can pass the 13.1 mile mark, where the BTFA intend to place a clock, in one hour, 11 minutes or better, they will join a team which already includes seven qualifiers.

Julia Hawley, the only female Bermudian expected to challenge for a place on the team, would have to pass the same mark in 1:22 in order to book her spot.

Already qualified for the Games, which take place between June 26 and June 28, are triple jumper Brian Wellman, sprinters Troy Douglas and Devon Bean, long jumper Attiba Tucker, middle distance runners Jay Donawa and Terrance Armstrong, and young high jumper Reneka Bean.

Wellman, Bermuda's Athlete of the Year for the past five years, is seen as the best bet for a medal, although a history of foot problems and tough competition makes it far from a certainty.

National track and field coach Gerry Swan acknowledged the latter -- particularly a trio of Cubans and Dominica's Jerome Romaine, the bronze medallist in the 1995 World Outdoor Games -- but said Wellman's bunions which flared up in February are "very much behind him''.

Wellman pulled out of the World Indoor Championships and afterwards investigated use of a special shoe that would protect his feet rather than undergo surgery and miss several months.

Now, however, taping his feet "in a special way'' seems to have worked "to the point that he is very comfortable with what he has,'' Swan said yesterday.

"Special footwear is not necessary.'' Wellman has competed in only one outdoor meet, two weeks ago, when he won with a leap of 55 feet in Springfield, Missouri. Swan said the Arkansas-based triple jumper would head to Europe for at least two meets -- including June 10 in Bratislava -- before the CAC Games.

Another US-based athlete turning in impressive results is Devon Bean. The young sprinter, who represented Bermuda at the Atlanta Olympics, has already won three 100-metre races in California this month, his best time being a clocking of 10.45 seconds in Modesto on May 10.

That was the same meet -- but different event -- in which Trinidad and Tobago's Ato Bolden ran the year's best 100m time, 9.89 seconds.

Bean, a student at Long Beach College, also competed in the long jump, leaping a personal best 24 feet, nine inches.

Armstrong's last race was in the 1500m at George Mason University on May 10, when he clocked 3:53.

Among those also challenging for a place on the team are sprinter Xavier James, who needs to run the 100 metres in 10.6 and recently clocked 10.7 while easing up towards the line, and 800 metre runner Sheldon Thompson.

A meeting has been called for 7.30 tomorrow evening at the Department of Community Affairs to discuss the CAC Games. Athletes or their representatives are asked to attend.

Meanwhile, the BTFA have confirmed that the national junior and senior track and field championships will be combined over the weekend of June 7 and 8, starting at 4.00 p.m. each day.

Entry forms for the championships have been distributed to local schools and are available at Sportseller in Hamilton, but BTFA spokesman Bob Oliver has stressed that all entries must be returned by May 31.