achieved a personal best leap of 17.47 metres (57 feet, 33 inches) in the triple jump.

Wellman, competing at an indoor meeting in Grenoble, France, recorded the best jump of his career to finish ahead of Oleg Sakirkin of Kazakhstan (17.06) and Maris Bruziks of Latvia (16.84) as well as three other jumpers ranked in the top 10 last season.

On Friday night in Moscow he also finished in the top spot, leaping 17.07 metres (56 feet), to beat Russians Denis Kapustin (16.95) and Dmitry Bizov (16.55).

The results put Wellman on a strong footing for 1995 as he continues to work his way toward a gold medal at the Pan American Games in Argentina in March.

Wellman was unavailable for comment last night, but national track and field coach Gerry Swan, who spoke with him yesterday, said that the triple jumper was elated over his latest achievement.

"Brian was excited and he had great reason to be excited,'' said Swan, who has guided Wellman throughout his career.

"I think it's a great start to the season, absolutely. And if he can be consistent with jumps in the 17.40-17.50 (metres) it provides great basis on which even longer jumps can be realised.

"Brian had his best season last year and certainly his performances last night and on Friday give great impetus and a great start for this year.'' Swan also pointed out how Wellman had accomplished the feat using a shortened approach of 16 strides, as opposed to the 21 he normally employs.

Although the jump surpassed the 17.41 he achieved in El Paso last April, that mark will still be regarded as the Bermuda record since it was achieved outdoors. The new record will be kept on record, however, but will be noted as an indoor mark only.

The two-time Athlete of the Year is coming off his finest year on the international circuit, despite being inactive for three weeks during the summer because of an automobile accident. He ended 1994 as the number three triple jumper in the world behind his coach Mike Conley and Kenny Harrison of the United States.

It was the third straight year he had been ranked in the top 10 in the world.

A senior at the University of Arkansas, Wellman, 27, has dedicated himself to becoming number one in the sport during the next few years.

He won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games last year and has made no secret about the fact he'd like to win a gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Also at the Grenoble meeting yesterday, Algerian middle distance king Noureddine Morceli failed to break his own world 1,500 metres indoor record by just 0.13 of a second.

Morceli, the 1,500 metres world champion, clocked three minutes 34.29 seconds in his first outing of the year.

The Algerian was unruffled at missing out on another world mark.

"I'm young and I have the whole future before me,'' he said. "If I stay in good health I can perform miracles.'' Morceli said his main targets for the season were retaining his world outdoor 1,500 metres title in Gothenburg, Sweden, in August and breaking more world records.

BRIAN WELLMAN -- recorded his best-ever leap of 17.47 metres in Grenoble, France yesterday.