Ashley Couper's bid to qualify for next month's Commonwealth Games has ended in disappointment.

The Bermudian middle-distance runner was in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the weekend aiming to nail the qualifying time of 4:20.0 in the 1500 metres, having missed it by 0.7 of a second in March.

Following that run she suffered a stress fracture and only resumed proper training a fortnight ago.

Couper, based in California, met up with other Island athletes for the USA Track and Field New England Championships on Saturday at the MIT Track in Cambridge, close to Boston. The Championships were open to all ages and had no categories with juniors and seniors competing together.

Cold, windy and rainy conditions didn't help Couper and she placed third with a time of 4:21.64.

A spokesman for the Bermuda Track and Field Association said the BTFA had been unsuccessful in having the qualification deadline extended so that Couper would have extra time to make the mark.

Xavier James, who has successfully qualified for the Manchester Games, came first in the men's 100 metres in a time of 10.84 seconds and second in the 200 metres in 22.10.

Meanwhile, the conditions proved too bad for the high jump and organisers were forced to move it indoors.

Zindzi Swan placed third in the event after clearing 1.73 metres. She failed at 1.78 metres.

In the long jump, Swan went one better, placing second with a leap of 5.64 metres.

Tiffany Eatherley was entered in both the 800 metres and 1500 metres and placed third in the former in a time of 2:17.02. In the 1500 metres, held half an hour after the 800, she came home 12th in a time of 5:07.17.

Brittney Marshall came third out of six competitors in the shot putt, registering a throw of 11.9 metres. In the discus she came second out of five with a throw of 33.79 metres.