Some of Bermuda's top athletes will be in action this coming weekend at the New England National Championships in Boston as they continue preparing for upcoming regional and international competitions.

Among those slated to represent the Island in the USA are leading sprinter Xavier James as well as Zindzi Swan, Tiffany Eatherley and Brittney Marshall.

"I have qualified for the 200 metres at the Commonwealth Games but I'm still trying to qualify for the 100 metres. I am going to give it one last shot. I mean the 100 is the premier event - everybody wants to be in that!" said James.

The cut-off date for 100-metre qualification is June 15 (next Saturday) and if he has not made the required time by then, Bermuda's foremost sprinter will concentrate strictly on the half-lap event in which he thinks his chances are better anyway.

"I'm a tall sprinter and my start is not as strong as some of the shorter guys so I don't accelerate as quickly. In the 200, I have more time to make up distance between me and the other runners," explained the 26-year-old.

Following the Boston outing, he will head to the University of Calgary in Canada for a three-meet series and there's another track competition in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in which he is hoping to participate.

Marshall, 14, outlined definite goals for the New England competition and will be confident after her outstanding results at the National Championships this past weekend at the National Sports Complex.

"I want to go over 13 metres in the shot putt and set a personal best of over 37 metres in the discus," said the CedarBridge Academy student who won these two events plus the javelin in the women's 14-16 division at the Nationals.

Though no stranger to winning, Marshall was thrilled with her discus performance of 36.55 metres which saw her exceed 36 metres for the third time this season.

"I am really excited about that because I have been working to get all my throws over 36 metres this year."

Marshall shared the 14-16 girls title with 16-year-old Danielle Watson who won the 200 and 400 metres and the long jump.

The Berkeley Institute student was pleased with her 25.2 seconds in the 200 - her fastest time this year.

She is looking ahead to the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Junior Championships in Barbados next month and her aim will be to run 55 seconds in the 400 metres and 24.9 in the 200 metres.

The younger competitors had their fair share of success at Nationals too. Among them was eight-year-old Kenya Thompson who ran away with victories in the 100, 200 and 400 metres in the 8-9 division.

The Elliott Primary School student is following in the footsteps of her better-known athletic first cousin, Zindzi Swan, and plans to continue running because "it's fun and easy".

Full National Championships

results, see Scoreboard