he leapt 16.87 metres (54-41 ) in the qualifying round yesterday at the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany.

The 25-year-old triple jumping sensation finished sixth among the group two qualifiers and joint 11th overall. Those qualifying for the finals needed to jump at least 17.10 metres or be among the top 12 overall.

Wellman will need to jump more than 17 metres if he hopes to be in medal contention when the finals get under way at 1 p.m. Bermuda time today.

Olympic champion Mike Conley of the US produced the best jump when he leapt 17.39 metres (57-21 ) followed by Leonid Voloshin of Russia who jumped 17.34 metres (56-13 ). In third place was Pierre Camara of France (17.19 metres, 56-11 ), the gold medallist at the World Indoor Championships in Toronto in March.

Other notables headed for today's final include defending champion Kenny Harrison of the US, the gold medallist two years ago at Tokyo. Harrison turned in a jump yesterday of 16.95 metres (55-01 ) while Russia's Leonid Voloshin, a fourth-place finisher at the Barcelona Olympics, jumped 17.34 metres (56-13 ) and Maris Bruziks of Latvia jumped 16.85 metres (55-01 ). Bruziks won the silver medal at the world indoors.

Canadian Edrich Floreal, who finished a notch ahead of Wellman at a recent meet, failed to qualify for the finals. Also failing to qualify was Olympic silver medallist Frank Rutherford of the Bahamas who posted a jump of 15.86 metres (52-01 ).

One thing Wellman has going for him is that he is coming off a jump of 17.11 metres (56-11 ) at the Monaco Grand Prix a week before the World Athletic Championships began.

It was the third consecutive meet where Wellman finished in the top three and puts him good position for today's final.

Not competing of course is Bulgarian Nicolai Raev who tested positive for amphetamines at the world indoor championships after finishing third, thus opening the door for Wellman to collect a bronze medal and becoming the first Bermudian to win a medal at a world athletics meeting.

Another Bermudian, Troy Douglas, ran a creditable 45.57 in yesterday's 400 metres second round but was fifth and failed to reach the semifinals. Douglas' time was good enough to earn at least the mandatory fourth-place finish in the other three heats.

The heat winner was American favourite Michael Johnson in 44.72 while Ibrahim Ismail of Qatar was second in 44.95, Evan Clarke of Jamaica third in 45.32 and Norberto Tellez fourth in 45.51.

Douglas narrowly reached the second round as a fastest loser after also placing fifth in 46.17 on Saturday.

TROY DOUGLAS -- Just missed out on a place in the 400 metres semifinals after placing fifth in his second-round heat yesterday in 45.57 seconds. He was also fifth in the first round in 46.17.