January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Olympics
Who still has a shot to qualify for Beijing?
Sprinter Xavier James, middle distance runner Michael Donawa, long-jumpers Tyrone Smith and Arantxa King and swimmers Kiera Aitken and Roy Burch will be travelling the world in the coming weeks in a desperate bid to make the qualifying times.
All will have to break their personal bests and set new Bermuda records to join triathlete Flora Duffy and either of Bermuda's qualifying showjumpers Jill Terceira or Patrick Nisbett at the Games.
So far the Bermuda Olympic contingent has just two members. The smallest Olympic team ever was three in 1952.
But John Hoskins, president of the Bermuda Olympic Association, is confident that, with further slots on offer in track and field and swimming, the party will swell to at least six before the summer deadlines - still one of Bermuda's smallest ever.
"I think we're going to find it's going to get increasingly difficult to have teams like we've had before because of the higher qualification standards."
One athlete who is expected to make the grade is Smith.
He was born in Bermuda, but grew up in the States and now trains with Olympic legend Carl Lewis' team, is perhaps the best hope in track and field.
He jumped 7.84m Mt. Sac Relays in California last weekend and is confident he can hit the 8.05 qualifying mark.
"My personal best was quite some time ago. I'm fitter, stronger and more aware of what I have to do now. I feel I'm a 27-foot (8.21m) long jumper. That might sound cocky but I do feel I can be that good."
He said it was still early in the season and with meets in Germany, Brazil and across the US to come, he was confident he could do the business.
Xavier James, who ran 10.55 at a meet in Claremont, Florida last weekend to qualify for the CAC Games in Colombia this summer, was equally confident he could get his time down to the 10.28 required.
"The challenge is to put together the total package. I'm working on some technical stuff this weekend and once it all kicks in, I'm confident my times will improve."
Roy Burch, who broke the Bermuda record in the 50m freestyle at the Pan Ams last year, needs to shave three tenths of a second off his time to get through.
After competing for his college in the States, where he competes in yards he now has to fly out to specific Olympic approved meets in Texas or California next month to try and make the time in a 50 metre pool.
"My yard times have improved so I believe that will convert nicely with a little more work till the next swim."
The good news for those who don't make the grade is that track and field and swimming are recoginized as being the core sports of the Olympics and as such, every country is allowed one male and female participant in both sports if they don't have a person who has qualified.
Mike Cherry, vice president of the BOA, said: "That person still has to be approved by the IAAF or FINA. It is not a guarantee."
"With swimming the criteria is that they had to compete in the World Championships last year so that definitely means Roy and/or Keira because no other Bermudian competed in the World Championships."
Cherry added it looks good that both will be selected by FINA if they don't qualify because in addition to being at the 2007 World Championships, the pair are close to the qualifying mark anyway.
"For track and field, it's a little bit different."
He said that Arantxa King would be the only person eligible to get the female slot and would be a likely candidate for a wildcard slot.
But for Tyrone Smith, Xavier James and Michael Donawa it then is up to the IAAF to select one of the trio for the male athletics slot.
"That would not be our decision," Cherry said. "The IAAF would look at past performance. There is no requirement that they had to compete at the World Championships.
"Tyrone stands a good chance because he did compete at the World Indoor Championships.
"Xavier is a sprinter and he did get the nod last time at Athens so he does have Games experience.
"It probably wouldn't happen for Michael."
Duffy has been granted a wild card by the International Triathlon Union if she doesn't qualify.
Duffy has to be ranked in the top 50 to qualify. She's currently 53rd, but once you throw out people from countries who have more than three triathletes, she moves up to 46th.
If, for some strange reason she's not in the top 50, the wild card kicks in as long as Duffy's in the top 125.
For Nisbett and Terceira, they will have three events in May and June to decide which one gets to represent Bermuda.
Cherry said whichever one ends up with the least amount of total faults from those competitions would be given the Bermuda slot for the Olympics.[[In-content Ad]]
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