qualifying for this year's Games in Sydney. However, the sprinter remains confident that he will make the mark in time for team consideration.

James, competing at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials qualifying meet in North Carolina on Sunday, clocked 10.6 seconds in the 100 metres, which was two-hundredths of a second outside the required mark of 10.4. He came back to post a 21.4 in the 200 metres, well short of the 20.9 qualifying time.

"I went up to Raleigh focusing on my start and I actually executed it quite well. But I stayed in my drive phase the whole race and didn't execute my finish,'' said James, who the week prior ran 10.44 and 21.2 for the 100 and 200 at the Quicksilver Track Meet in Atlanta, Georgia.

"Rather than looking at a time perspective I was looking at more one of executing proper technique. We finally accomplished it in terms of getting out of the blocks with everybody, but the strong part of my race -- the finish -- I didn't execute and stayed down, because I was so much focused on the start.'' Unlike at previous events, James responded well to the gun and managed to stay with the leaders over the first 50 metres. However, he faded towards the end.

Llewelyn Bredwood of Jamaica won the race in a modest 10.15, with American Floyd Heard (10.18) second and another Jamaican born sprinter, Patrick Jarret (10.19) third.

A similar scenario unfurled in the 200, with the six-foot plus Bermudian leading through the turn, but faltering down the stretch as Heard broke the tape first in 20.18.

"My coach told me I should have qualified in the 200,'' said James. "I came off the turn and I was in front heading into the straightaway. That's where you start to lift your knees to extend, but I started lifting my knees too much, which caused me to lose ground because I was almost running on the spot.'' Having competed regularly during the past month, James will take a two week break to engage in speed specific drills, before heading off to Indiana for a meet. "It's coming, I feel it in my bones,'' said James, always the optimist.

"Those guys are no better than me.

"The kid will be ready.''