Central American and Caribbean track and field championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico yesterday.

Sprinters Xavier James and Devon Bean and middle distance runner Sheldon Thompson all became early victims of the region's increasing strength in athletics, bowing out of their premier events on the first day of the three-day meet.

James, competing in the second of five 100 metres heats of which only the first four qualified, could manage no better than 11.16 seconds for a sixth place finish.

Bean, who made his Olympic debut in Atlanta last year, raced in the final heat and clocked a faster 10.75 to qualify in fourth place. But while he brought that time down to 10.58 for another fourth place in the semi-finals, it fell eight hundredths of a second short of earning him a berth in today's final.

Only the top two in each semi and then the next four fastest advanced to the eight-man final, with Bean's time placing him ninth overall.

Meanwhile, in the last of three 800 metre heats, Thompson stayed with the pack for all but the final 200 metres before wilting and trailing home last in 1:58.91.

That marked the end of Thompson's Games, although he was expected to carry the Bermuda flag in last night's official opening ceremony.

James, however, will get a second bite at the cherry in today's 200 metres, along with one of Bermuda's real medal prospects, veteran Olympian Troy Douglas. And late last night Bean was due back on the track for the long jump.

Also seeing action today will be Terrance Armstrong in the 1500 metres and Jay Donawa in the 5,000 metres.

Armstrong is also entered in the 3,000 metre steeplechase tomorrow while the final day will see Kavin Smith compete in the half-marathon (6.00 a.m. local time) and Brian Wellman, who was due to arrive in San Juan last night, in the triple jump.

Team spokesman Bob Oliver noted last night that a decision had been made to scrap Bermuda's 4x100 metre relay entry due to the late injury withdrawal of Atiba Tucker and the fact that Douglas was required to run his 200 metre heat and semi-final on the same day as the relay.

"It's unfortunate, because we thought we had a very capable relay team,'' said Oliver. "But we think it would be putting too much pressure on Troy to run three times in a day.'' Oliver, meanwhile, pointed out the strength of the Cuban team was such that they were expected to completely dominate the medal table.

"(Anna) Quirot and (Ivan) Pedrosa are both among the Cuban team, and that tells you how seriously they're taking these Games,'' said Oliver, referring to Cuba's world class middle distance runner and long jumper.

However, while international veterans Douglas and Wellman remain the pick of Bermuda's squad, Oliver believed both Armstrong and Donawa could make an impact.

"Traditionally the steeplechase isn't that strong in this area, so Terrance could fare very well,'' said Oliver. "And Jay says he's in as good a shape as he's ever been and is feeling pretty confident. Most of those in the 5,000 field have best times around the same as Jay. Only one has a sub 13-minute. It could be interesting.'' Randy Benjamin's hope of taking more than 100 young athletes to a track and field meet in Jamaica have collapsed. His Bermuda Schools Athletic Tour, scheduled for July 2-11, was officially cancelled this week when not enough tickets were sold to book a charter flight.

Despite a last-minute public appeal for donations or ticket purchases, the the decision was made to call off the trip, spelling bad news for about 50 young athletes who had committed to the meet. Brown Charters needed confirmation of an additional 40 seats to make the flight worthwhile.