Bermuda's 200 metre runner Xavier James says he has a big decision ahead of him - whether to continue or hang up his spikes.

Minutes after failing to qualify for the semi-final of the event at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester on Sunday, James expressed disappointment with his second round time of 21.50 and talked of calling it a day.

That may have been a premature statement said in the heat of the moment, especially if you consider James set a personal best time of 21.04 in the first round and that he was up against Namibia's Frankie Fredericks and England's Darren Campbell in the second.

“I am disappointed,” he said. “21.50 is not what I was expecting. There is no way I should be running that slow. I am happy I got a PB but . . . I gave it what I had but I guess what I had wasn't good enough.

“I at least wanted to make the semi-finals - that was my intention coming in here. I felt I was in the shape coming in to do that.”

James pointed to a lack of exposure to top level competition as one reason behind his failure.

“Probably inexperience (was to blame). The lack of experience,” he said. “The other guys go through the NCAA college system so they are used to the heats, the semis, the finals, doing three races a day.

“Since I didn't get that opportunity I have to do the best I can.”

The support of his family and friends has, at times, been all that has kept James going, he said.

“It's been really difficult,” he said. “If it wasn't for my parents I wouldn't be here right now. I guess I owe this PB today to them, but not only them, my cousins, my uncles and everyone else who has been there to support me. Also, those people who want to remain unmentioned, I want to thank them, not only have they helped me this year but in previous years.

“I have had a difficult road but that's what happens.”

James was set to return to Bermuda yesterday.

“There is no sense me hanging around here - there is nothing to party about,” he said. “I will go back home and spend some time re-evaluating to see whether it's going to be worth it to come back next year and run.

“I am not sure if I am going to do it or not. I have finished school and I want to get myself established in Bermuda and I can't be running because the money is not there. I am not in the top ten in the world to be able to do that. I just have to come back, get a job and go from there.”

James said things might be different if there were top class events in Bermuda.

“Bermuda does not have the races,” he said. “In order for me to get to a race I have to fly away. I don't have the money to be doing that every weekend. Think about it, it's $700 a weekend, airplane ticket, hotel, travelling to and from the meet, transportation.

“If I had the opportunity of all these world class runners I would run world class times. These guys train full time, that's what they do for a living. In turn, I have to do a lot of other stuff and then try and make it to the track. There are times sometimes when I train at midnight just to keep my fitness up.”