Terrance Armstrong's attempt to take on the cream of the region's 5000 metre runners ended in brave failure here at the CAC Games last night.

Concerned about the way he allowed himself to get boxed in during Sunday's 1500 metres -- an event more to his liking -- the Washington DC based Bermudian decided to mount a challenge from the front.

For the first lap of the race he sat on the shoulder of pacesetter Jacinto Rodriguez of Puerto Rico as the pair opened up a lead of about ten metres over an otherwise tight-knit field of 13.

Then he took over himself, resplendent at the front as his bright red running shoes contrasted nicely with the blue track of the Panchero Romero Stadium.

It wasn't until the end of the fourth lap that the chasing pack made its move as Mexicans Isaac Garcia Robles and Pablo Castanon and Colombian Juan Carlos Gutierrez showed their hands.

Armstrong stayed in contention for a while in a group of nine but with six laps to go the field began to open up and he dropped back.

As the race temperature soared it was only the two Venezuelans German Beltran and Freddy Gonzalez who were able to mount a challenge to the leading three and, roared on by the home crowd, they overtook Robles and Guttierezas as they rounded the final bend into the home straight.

But Castanon was in a class of his own as he powered to the line, stretching his lead to a little under three seconds and claiming the gold medal in 14.01.85.

With the hardware decided, Armstrong, who was fading so badly as to have been caught by straggler Parnenos Ballantyne, found some finishing power -- although as he relaxed towards the tape he was caught by Zephrinus Joseph of St Lucia.

Kevin Pearson's Bermuda record of 14.40.9 remained intact as Armstrong was timed at 15.10.23. However, doubt was raised over that time as Joseph was listed at 15.06.62. That was a mighty big gap for someone who had literally beaten the Bermudian right at the death.

Afterwards Armstrong was honest enough to admit: "I was way out of my league in that field. I really just wanted to try out my fitness for the Commonwealth Games.'' But he confirmed his chance of bronze in the 1500 metres the night before had been affected when he almost fell early on in the race as competitors jostled for an advantage. "I stumbled and almost put my hand on the ground,'' he said.

Armstrong had finished fourth in the 1500m in a time of 3:48.93.

Earlier last night, Tariq Hewey had advanced to the semis of the men's 200 metres after the qualifying rounds were cancelled due to a lack of entries.

Running in the last of three heats, he finished in 22.37 seconds -- a time not good enough to earn him a place in tomorrow night's final.