an impressively controlled race to place eighth in a high-quality 1,500 metres final on the last day of the 16th Commonwealth Games.

Up against some of the fastest middle-distance men in the world, Armstrong could not better the Bermuda national record of 3:41.97 he set a couple of months ago, but on this day the race was not so much about time as tactics.

And with Sydney 2000 still the Bermudian's long-term target, there was sufficient in this performance to suggest not only will he qualify comfortably for the trip Down Under but with realistic hopes of making at least the semi-finals.

Armstrong's finishing kick carried him home in 3:44.57; just under four seconds behind bronze medallist Tony Whiteman and some two seconds quicker than his previous day's qualifying time.

In fact, the 26-year-old did everything right until a blistering last lap left him in the wake of the fancied Kenyan and English pace-setters.

While the Kenyans did not unleash the kind of team front-running that has destroyed just about every other distance field at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium this week, Armstrong was understandably delighted at the way he stayed in touch until the bell lap.

"I'll take that,'' he beamed just minutes after crossing the line. "I talked things over with (coach) Gerry Swan this morning and my goal was to make top eight. I was ninth or tenth heading into the straight, so to get two places over what the fastest times suggested is just great.

"I can't make any excuses about eighth, and I'm not giving any. I'm happy. My season's finally done and I've finished it off by making the final at the Commonwealth Games and running well. That's all I could ask for.'' Before a disappointingly small crowd -- organisers made the huge mistake of selling tickets for the final day's track and field events separately from the closing ceremony that followed -- Armstrong answered the gun by taking up a middle-of-the-pack position during a conservative first lap of 1:01.84.

But when the pace accelerated with Kenyan John Kibowen in front, he responded by moving up to fifth.

And he was still there until a furious last lap saw Kibowen overtaken by compatriot Laban Rotich who surged home to take the gold in 3:39.49. England's John Maycock won silver in 3:40.46 and team-mate Whiteman the bronze in 3:40.70.

While the last lap burst inititally pushed Armstrong back to 10th, his courageous kick down the straight carried him past Welshman Chris Stephenson and Jamaica's Stephen Green.

"I knew the last lap was going to be quick, but I didn't expect it to go out that slowly,'' he added.

"When it did pick up I got myself in position. I ran a much smarter race than yesterday but at the end those guys had so much more than me.

"The third lap is where I tried to pick it up. And I gave it all I had. But when the Kenyans go, they go and you know it's going to hurt.'' Despite failing to break his national record, Armstrong said he was now confident it was only a matter of time before he dipped under the magical 3:40 barrier.

"I can definitely do it. In fact, if the pace had been faster today I think I would have had a chance. I was ready for a fast pace and when they started kicking I felt fresher than ever.

"Naturally faster times come out of faster races, and today's race wasn't that fast. But they will come, and hopefully I'll be ready.'' TERRANCE ARMSTRONG -- `no complaints' RUNNING RUN