Terrance Armstrong carries Bermuda's banner into the final individual track event of the Commonwealth Games today, well aware he could be a part of history in the making.

With two crack Kenyans and Britain's top middle-distance runners in the field, the pace in the 1,500 metres final will not be nearly so pedestrian as it was yesterday.

One of the Games' longest-standing records -- Tanzanian Filbert Bayi set the mark of three minutes, 32.20 seconds 24 years ago in Christchurch, New Zealand -- will certainly be under threat and possibly the world best of 3:26.00 set by Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in July this year.

And although there was no indication yesterday that those times might be bettered, Armstrong knows all too well that for some the semi-finals were just a stroll in the park.

The Washington-based 26-year-old had to rely on clocking one of the four fastest times outside the eight automatic qualifiers to earn his berth, but there was never any doubt he had done enough to advance to the final.

With three late scratches, including Kenya's 5,000 metres gold medallist Daniel Komen, the final field was determined by the first four finishers in each semi, and the four next fastest times.

Armstrong could only manage fifth in his heat, but his time of 3:46.80 -- some five seconds outside his PB -- was still the sixth fastest on the day.

In fact, in the Bermudian's race the pace was so much quicker than the other heat that the first seven all progressed. Victory went to Englishman Tony Whiteman -- second to Marcus O'Sullivan in the Front Street Mile two years ago -- in a relatively slow 3:45.18.

Whiteman, like Armstrong, tucked in at the back for three laps before exploding on the last circuit to go past everyone including pacesetter John Kibowen of Kenya who eventually took second in 3:45.55.

In the sprint for the line, Chris Stephenson of Wales (3:45.75) and England's Kevin McKay (3:46.18) narrowly outkicked Armstrong, who complained later of feeling heavy-legged on the last turn.

"I'm not sure what went wrong but I just didn't feel 100 percent today. It was pretty humid out there and I felt a bit sluggish,'' he said.

"I was just trying to hang on and make my move with 200 to go, but even with a little bit left I couldn't get fourth which is what I was trying for. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the time and the fact I got into the final easily.

"Tactically I think I did everything right, I couldn't have done it much better. I just didn't have it at the end but, as they say, if you qualify you can't complain.'' Armstrong acknowledges today's final, the last race before the traditional Games-ending relays and then closing ceremony in front of a sell-out crowd, will be far more electrifying.

"Most definitely it's going to be a fast pace, and the Kenyans will be tough to beat. We all pretty much anticipated the Kenyans taking it out today, and they did, and we were going to fight for the next three places.

"That's basically what happened even though they got caught.

"But tomorrow they'll probably do the same thing, and maybe even sacrifice one of their own runners, the same as they did in the 800, in order to get a fast time.

"They run pretty smart and all I've got to do is focus on what I came here to do, hopefully do my best and come out of it with a new PB. I know the race is going to go sub 3:40 and if I can go with them that would be a great way to finish the season.'' Yesterday's second semi-final saw Kenyan Laban Rotich lead from start to finish to win in 3:46.71. But that's more than 16 seconds outside his best, and he'll be considered the danger man today.

Bermuda high jumper Ronan Kane, meanwhile, matched his mark at the recent CAC Games with another jump of 2.05 metres.

But after failing to reach his target of 2.15 and make the top 10, the 18-year-old university student hinted that he might switch to another discipline.

Kane failed once at 2.00 metres before clearing at his second attempt, went over 2.05 on his first try, but then missed all three efforts at 2.10 to place 11th in the 14-man field.

Kane admitted: "This wasn't the way I wanted to end the season. It was almost exactly the same situation as CAC. "I thought maybe I had that last jump but overall the technique was a bit rusty. It's been difficult training on grass in Bermuda because of the repairs at National Stadium.

"Today's been a good chance to watch the technique of the top guys. They're going over 2.30 and they make it look so easy.'' However, the Dublin University student confessed he was now tempted to try another discipline.

"I don't know how far I'm going to go in high jump,'' he said. "I may switch to something else. I used to do the javelin, and this winter I'm going to give the pole vault a go. Throughout the year the one sport, high jump, gets a bit tedious. I'd like to pursue other things.'' Asked whether decathlon was an option, Kane said: "Yeah, I've put a lot of thought into that. But I think I'll give it a few more years and see how the high jump goes. When I get a bit older and bigger I may focus on that.''