A cramping Xavier James lost out in a closely contested 100 metres final at the Island Games last night, having to settle for fourth place by just one hundredth of a second.

James, the son of former Sports Minister El James, had looked a medal certainty after he posted the fastest semi-final time of 10.78 earlier in the day.

But after not getting the best of starts in the final, he couldn't reel in his two Cayman Island rivals, Wallace Little and Steven Reid, or home crowd favourite Mats Boman.

And the veteran sprinter admitted afterwards he was forced to ease up because of cramps half-way through the race.

"That's the way it goes sometimes," said James, who spends much his time these days coaching rather than competing.

"I felt it after about 50 metres, I had to ease up," he added, pointing to the back of his leg.

As for his future in international events, James was non-committal. "To be honest I'm happy to be coaching right now."

While Little took the gold in, which by international standards, was a relatively slow 10.73, there was a photo finish for second, third and fourth, James just failing to medal.

Boman clocked 10.82, Reid 10.84 and James 10.85.

While James had eased into the final in the morning, Bermuda's 200 metres silver medallist, Jeneko Lottimore Place, missed out by a narrow 0.04 of a second.

Place finished third in the second semi-final but with the six fastest from both heats advancing, it was Glenn Etherington of Guernsey who pipped the Bermudian with a time of 11.08 compared to Place's time of 11.12.

Earlier, South African born Stephane Schoeman, a resident in Bermuda for two years, and thus eligible for these Games, looked mighty impressive as she coasted to victory in the first heat of the women's 800 metres, timing her run to perfection.

Schoeman, who placed fifth in Monday's final of the 400 metres but considers the longer event her best, hit the line in 2:17.77.

Only one runner recorded a faster time in the heats, Eilidh Mackenzie of the Western Isles, who was clocked in 2.17.17.

The two rivals are expected to battle for gold in today's final at 11.00 a.m. local time.

Bermuda's other 800m runner, Ashley Robinson, seemed to run out of steam after the first lap in the same heat as Schoeman, finishing sixth and last in 2:32.06.

Explaining her last lap surge, Schoeman said: "I'm fortunate I have a lot of speed and in heats like that which are going too slowly, I have a little advantage.

"I've been in Bermuda for just over two years but this was the first 800 metres I've run in about eight years. I ran a lot of track in South Africa and I'm trying to get back into it.

"I have no idea what to expect in the final so I'll just go out there and see what happens.

"My best time is 2.07 but, as I said, that was about eight years ago.

"I had been training quite well but then two months ago I pulled a hamstring, so I've been on crutches for a month.

"Training recently hasn't gone as I planned, so I surprised myself today. I didn't think I was able to do this."

Also competing on the last day of the athletics programme will be May 24 Marathon Derby winner Victoria Fiddick who races in the half-marathon which begins at noon on what is forecast to be another blazing hot day.

Having reached the nine-team play-offs, Bermuda held on to their medal hopes with a nailbiting 77-76 victory over Rhodes yesterday and will meet Menorca today, looking for their fourth straight win.

The teams have been drawn into three groups of three, and should Bermuda win their group they’re almost certain to contest Saturday’s championship match, one of the final events of the Games.

Chris Crumpler led the team’s scoring yesterday, sinking 24 points, while Dean Jones contributed 19 and Jason Simons added a valuable 12, all of them three-pointers.

In their previous games Bermuda crushed Jersey 100-33 and beat Cayman 82-71

Malcolm Smith set himself up for an enthralling last day in the Laser Standard Rig when he finished second and third in the seventh and eighth races of the week-long regatta yesterday.

Before Wednesday’s rest day, Smith had finished on a high on Tuesday with a third and a first, and his last four results have now put him firmly in medal contention.

But now everything will depend on today’s last two races after which the 24 sailors in the fleet will be able to discard another result.

Smith currently sits in fourth place on 30 points but will be allowed to throw out his first-race finish, when he came tenth.

Above him on the standings are first-placed Oscar Dannstrom of Alandwith 19 points, Dominic Breen-Turner of Ynys Mon with 20 and Luke Breen-Turner of Ynys Mon with 23.

All four will have plenty at stake when they sail on the waters of Eastern Harbour today.

Bermuda’s other Standard Rig entry, Brett Wright, finished an encouraging third in the seventh race yesterday but then followed that with a 13th which he will probably throw out.

He’s currently lying in sixth with 45 points.

No official results for the Laser Radial Rig or the Boardsailing classes were available last night.

Competitors had also been scheduled to sail two races, but the first was eventually delayed because of a lack of breeze.

Sara Adderley lies in third place and Rockal Evans seventh.

Alex Jones, Bermuda’s only Boardsailor, was fifth after six races so far.

Bermuda women’s winning streak came to a grinding halt at the Baltichallen stadium yesterday as they came up against powerful Group A rivals, Saaremaa, in both teams’ final group game.

Both sides went into the clash with unbeaten records after four wins each, but Saaremaa proved too strong as they carved out a 25-19, 15-16, 25-16 win.

However, they could still meet again in the match to decide gold and silver on Saturday.

Faroe Islands beat Menorca 3-1 last night, meaning they will play Bermuda today while Menorca will face Saaremaa.

Those remain the only four teams in medal contention.

Bermuda’s winless men’s team remained that way last night as they suffered a straight-sets loss to Guernsey to decide ninth and tenth place overall.

Guernsey won 27-25, 25-22, 25-19.

Bermuda’s golfers remain in the hunt for as many as three medals when they enter the final round of the 72-hole event on the Castle Course at the Alands Golf Club today.

First round leader Jarryd Dillas regained the top spot yesterday with a sparkling two-under-par 70 at the King’s Course to finish at three-under overall. And team-mate Daniel Augustus is hot on his heels in third place on even par after a level-par 72 yesterday.

If there was one disappointment yesterday it was the performance of overnight leader, 17-year-old Damien Palanyandi, who carded a superb 68 in the second round on Wednesday only to follow with an 81 yesterday and has dropped to 11th place at seven-over.

Bermuda’s fourth member of the team, Camiko Smith, carded 75 yesterday and at 10-over is 13th in the 70-plus field.

In the team competition, Bermuda have now increased their lead to 11 shots and barring a major collapse today should be atop the podium at tonight’s medal presentation.

In the women’s individual event, Ebonie Burgess moved into the bronze medal position after firing a six-over par 78 yesterday to follow rounds of 79 and 72.

But at 14 over par overall, she remains some way behind the talented Aland player, Jenny Haggblom, who is at two-under after a round of 70 yesterday, which followed a 67 on Wednesday.

Bermuda’s Tariqah Walikraam is in eighth place after an 86 yesterday to finish at 19-over.

Katyna Rabain is placed 15th in the 43-player field and Katrin Burnie 27th. Rabain is 44-over after an 88 yesterday and Burnie 53-over after an 86.