Bermudian sprinter Xavier James met the qualifying time in the 200 metres for this year's Commonwealth Games with an impressive performance while competing in the University of Alabama Relays.

The amazing thing about his achievement on Saturday was that the Southampton resident hit the mark in his first race of the new year.

James posted a time of 21.18 seconds and finished second in his heat - a performance that saw him place sixth overall out of 99 competitors in the event.

It now means that Bermuda will have at least two track and field representatives in Manchester, the other being triple-jumper Brian Wellman.

James is determined not to let this recent success side track him as an immediate goal of his is to also qualify for the 100 metres. That will be his focus when he takes part in the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

While attempting to keep a reign on his emotions over the triumph in the 200 metres, James was cautiously optimistic about his chances over the shorter distance.

"I am looking at it this way - the 200 is now put behind me and the 100 is next. It's like saying one down and one to go. Let's see what happens this weekend, I intend to approach it the same way as I did the 200 metres by going out there and running and enjoying the race.''

Although in just the right state of mind to achieve his goal, James is refusing to make the forthcoming race the `be all and end all'.

"I have no time limit. I got stressed out in the Olympic year in trying to make the qualifying standard and now I am just having fun. I am more relaxed and having success as I go along this way,'' he said.

What is encouraging to the young sprinter, though, is the fact that he has not only qualified in the 200 metres but done so so early after resuming training after a long winter lay-off.

"It was good to have a result like this in my first race of the season. I just went out there and did it. I didn't run indoors at all during the off season. I had been having problems in training up to two days prior to the meet but I just went out there and said `whatever happens happens','' he said.

"I certainly wasn't 100 percent fit and to be honest I didn't put 100 percent into it. I just went through the motions to see where I was because I didn't know what sort of competitive shape I was in.

"I had a cold and other allergies but I still competed. I knew I was running good times in training, but I just didn't know what it would translate into on the track and against stiff competition.''

For this weekend James has his eye on the 10.44 qualifying time.