local representatives to the upcoming World Indoor Championships.

Currently in the process of devising a preliminary list to be sent off to the world governing International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), BTFA vice president Mike Swan said he is optimistic that the Island will have four athletes on show in Lisbon, Portugal, come March.

"We had just (last) week received the information from the IAAF, and what I'm going to do is submit a preliminary list, which will be followed by a final list,'' said Swan, who has the responsibility of organising the venture. "The preliminary due date for submission has actually passed, but we only received the information this week.'' "We're looking at four possible athletes for the World Championships -- Terrance Armstrong, Devon Bean, Xavier James and Brian Wellman -- but, of course, they first have to qualify.

"We received the new qualifying standards and I believe Brian may have already qualified.'' Wellman and Bean were set to be in action over the weekend, with both taking part in a small indoor meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

James clocked 6.71 seconds in the 60 metres at a December meet in Canada, and has a few other meets lined up in his quest to make the standard.

Armstrong, who recently returned home to compete in the Front Street Mile and Bermuda 10K, but is regarded as a 1500 metres specialist, presents more of a mystery in terms of which meets he will take part in as far as his bid is concerned.

Meanwhile, more than 100 countries have already submitted preliminary entries for the Championships, with the United States entering the biggest team so far.

On Friday the IAAF said that it had received entries from 102 countries for the March 9-11 spectacular.

The entries so far include a total of 722 athletes -- 397 men and 325 women.

The United States has entered the biggest contingent -- 60 athletes, 30 men and 30 women. Russia is next with 51 athletes, 29 women and 22 men.

Many of the world's top athletes are skipping the indoor season to focus attention on the World Outdoor Championships at Edmonton this summer.