feet -- when he was named Bermuda's Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year at a glitzy made-for-television gala at the Hamilton Princess.

It marked the first time in the 13-year history of the Sports Award Ceremony that an athlete had attained the honour two years in a row.

The 26-year-old Wellman joined fellow track and field competitor Clarence Saunders as the only multiple award winners.

High-jumper Saunders holds the `record' for number of times won, having taken top billing in 1981, 1984, 1988 and 1990.

But last night was a time for Wellman to shine in the spotlight after being recognised for a successful 1993 campaign which saw him hop, skip and jump his way through various world class events around the globe.

Wellman last night strode forward to collect his prize, a large, gleaming silver trophy.

"Everyone's triple jump goal is to go 61-62 feet,'' said Wellman. "But I'm not going to limit myself to 60 feet...I know I can go further.'' Although the athlete has said in prior interviews that he regarded 1993 as being a sub-par year, his stunning list of achievements undoubtedly prove otherwise.

Most disheartening to Wellman is known to have been his eighth-place finish during the World Championships at Stuttgart, Germany, last summer.

However, there were simply too many other positive `points of light' for the selection panel to overlook.

A bronze medal and a Bermuda record leap in March at the Indoor World Championships in Toronto, Canada, jump-started the year for Wellman and the ensuing months witnessed a single-minded determination to excel against the best the world could offer.

"It's all good and well, but right now I think of the awards, but I do give it up to the good Lord and all my friends and family,'' said Wellman.

With first-place finishes at a pair of California events following the conclusion of the indoor circuit, Wellman went on to place second in the Bislet Championships and third in two other International Amateur Athletic Federation Grand Prix events in Norway and Monte Carlo.

Currently Wellman is involved in the just-initiated indoor season, but it is not all about running and jumping for the Arkansas University senior, who is working towards a degree in architectural drafting.

"The total support and evironment around me allowed me to win two, and hopefully there will be a third with the Commomnwealth (Games) coming up,'' said Wellman.

There were several other awards handed out to those also having made significant impact on the local sport scene: Recognition award -- Dennis Lewin; Sports citation -- Hazzard Dill, Esso Bermuda, Austin Hughes, Perry Johnson, Thelma (Jones) Mauzy; Achievement awards -- Stevie Dickinson, Jennifer Fisher, Chris Flook, Kavin Smith, Malcolm Smith; Special Achievement -- Prudence Brewer, Malcolm Gosling.

BRIAN WELLMAN -- The triple jumper is all smiles after being named athlete of the year last night.