Bermuda Olympian Tyrone Smith has been backed to put his indifferent form behind him and leap into the long jump finals at this weekend's IAAF World Indoor Championships.

The 24-year-old touched down in Doha, Qatar earlier this week where he has been putting the finishing touches to his preparations with coach and manager, Tom Tellez.

In an attempt to improve his speed down the runway, Smith has been running in several 60 metre races since the end of last year and Bermuda Track and Field Association (BTFA) president, Donna Watson, is confident he can reach the finals.

"He's training has been on track, he's not had great results in his indoor meets but we hope he will be able to pull it together for the meet," said Watson.

"He has been running in several 60 metre races to improve his speed on the runway since last year.

"He felt he had to improve in that area and hopefully everything will come together at the right time.

"If he jumps his best he should make the finals.

"I haven't checked to see who else is competing in the long jump so I cannot make any predictions."

Houston-based Smith will temporarily move to Southern Europe after the Indoor Championships where he will tune up for the Commonwealth Games which will be held in Delhi, India in October.

A $10,000 grant from Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA)'s Delhi Development Fund will cover his relocations costs and enable the part-time car salesman to immerse himself in training rather than having to 'chase the dollar' to fund his previous shoestring campaigns.

Having to swap his tracksuit for a shirt and tie has long been a source of frustration for Smith, and by his own admission he under-achieved at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The World Indoor Championships start tomorrow and is the first of six IAAF World Athletics Series events to take place this year.

Along with Smith, Aaron Evans, Tre Houston and Aranxta King have already qualified for the Commonwealth Games.

n Bermuda sprinter Jeneko Place came third in the 200 metres at a recent open track meet in Tampa, Florida, with a time of 21 seconds 79. Place, who has qualified for the Carifta Games and CAC Junior Championships, also finished fourth in the 100 metres in 10.95.