quality 60 metres field at the McGill Invitational track meet in Montreal, Canada over the weekend.

Frigid temperatures outside the covered stadium couldn't prevent the local athlete from heating up the arena as he clocked 6.88 seconds, which was less than two tenths of a second slower than the meet record of 6.70 held by Canada's Bruny Surin.

However, making James' time all the more remarkable was the fact that he and at least two other competitors initially eased up in anticipation of a second gun to signal a false start, only to have to resume running when none was forthcoming.

"My time was slower in the final because this guy, who runs for adidas, had a blatant false start, but they never shot the gun a second time to signal it,'' explained James, who narrowly missed out on earning a berth on Bermuda's Olympic team that travelled to Sydney during the summer.

"Myself and two other guys had started to pull up, but the race kept on going, so I had to pick it up, work my way back to the front and ended up still winning the race.

"The guy who false started knew what he had done and stopped completely, it was so obvious, but for some reason they never called it back.'' James was pleased with his performance, considering both the circumstances of the race as well as the fact that he is not nearly the prototype indoor runner.

Muscle-laden and six-feet plus, the 24-year-old -- like most big sprinters -- is traditionally slow out of the blocks and, reliant on the ability to close towards the end. However, that end is normally 100 or 200 metres, not 60.

"It's amazing, because I'm a top end sprinter, where my race really starts at 60 metres.

James wins at outdoor meet From Page 25 "I might not get out with the boys, but once I start getting up to speed I'm able to close on everybody.

"So, for me to win indoors and post a halfway decent time is positive, because it's working on my weakest phase, which is the start and early acceleration.

"If I can work on that for the next three months during the indoor season, by the time the outdoor season rolls around it'll set me up in good shape to do some damage.

"Because, the faster I start, the faster I finish.'' The success has even piqued the Bermudian's interest in the World Indoor Championships to be hosted in Lisbon, Portugal early next year.

James will need to go under 6.70 to qualify.

"It'll be a bonus if I go, because my focus is not really on indoors, rather outdoors is what I'm looking at.'' James also took part in the 4x200 metres relay, leading off and winning his leg in 21.5, which he calculated would transfer into a 20 second outdoor 200.

"It's a good start,'' he said. "I'm just trying to get myself conditioned early, so by the time the season comes I'm ready to roll -- rather than start in March or May and have it take until July to get in my groove.'' Next up for James is the Odd Events Track Meet at National Sports Centre on December 16, while his next jaunt overseas is slated for January.