Triple jumper Brian Wellman's downward spiral continued yesterday as he bowed out of the World Athletic Championships in Seville, Spain, failing to advance out of his qualifying group.

In the latest in a string of frustrating performances, Bermuda's former world indoor champion could manage only a best leap of 16.45 metres which left him in a tie for 25th place among the 39 athletes bidding for a spot in the final.

Only the top 12 or those who went over 17 metres were assured a place in the final.

In Group A qualifying, Bulgaria's Rostislav Dimitrov led the field with a jump of 17.3 metres followed closely by Britain's world record holder Jonathan Edwards (17.28) as six athletes hit the 17 metres mark.

But in Group B, in which Wellman competed, none of the 20 jumpers exceeded 17 metres, the best effort coming from Cuba's Pan-Am Games gold medallist Yoelbi Quesada who managed 16.88. Only four competitors advanced from Group B where Wellman placed 10th.

His best yesterday was only slightly better than his effort at the Pan-Ams in Winnipeg late last month when he placed fourth with a jump of 16.32 metres.

It was just four years ago at the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, that Wellman produced one of his most memorable jumps, grabbing the silver medal with a leap of 17.62 metres. That was on that same day that Edwards won gold with an astonishing 18.29, becoming the first man to go over 18 metres.

Earlier that year, Wellman had struck gold at the World Indoor Championships in Barcelona with a best of 17.72 metres.

However, injuries have taken their toll on the Arkansas-based athlete in recent years.

And his performance yesterday and at the Pan-Am Games, coupled with the fact that he is now 32-years-old, suggests his glittering career may be coming to an end.

Brian Wellman: another failure