CAC track and field championships in Puerto Rico.

Facing a June 1 deadline to finalise their team, Bermuda Track and Field Association this week received a special exemption that will see times and distances recorded at next month's national championships used as a final qualifier for the year's biggest meet.

"No doubt, this will the be the last shot,'' said BTFA vice president Bob Oliver.

Only seven Bermudians have met the standards needed to make the team and with the Island championships not until June 7-8 at National Stadium, other hopefuls were left with only one chance at qualifying: Tomorrow's Pacers Track Club meet.

(The Marathon Derby on Monday will be used a qualifier for the half-marathon).

Now top runners such as Sheldon Thompson, Xavier James, Mike Watson and Damian Simmons, plus any other spectacular performer, get a second chance at the June 28 trip to San Juan for the Central American and Caribbean championships.

"This adds a little excitement to out national championships,'' said Oliver.

BTFA officials still must provide Puerto Rican organisers with a preliminary list of athletes by June 1. This includes the current squad of Brian Wellman, Troy Douglas, Jay Donawa, Devon Bean, Attiba Tucker and Terrance Armstrong, the possible addition of young high jumper Raneika Bean and others currently on the bubble.

"Realistically, we could have somewhere in the area of 10-12 athletes,'' national track and field coach Gerry Swan said.