Bermudian triple jumper Brian Wellman received more good news recently in the form of a fifth-place world ranking.

In the latest list released by Track and Field News magazine, Wellman weighed in behind Olympic record-holder Mike Conley -- also his coach -- Charlie Simpkins, Frank Rutherford and Leonard Voloshin.

It is the highest ranking ever held by a Bermudian in the sport. High jumper Clarance (Nicky) Saunders held the previous high mark, having achieved a seventh-place position following the 1988 Olympics where he was fifth and maintained that position with a victory at the 1990 Commonwealth Games.

The groundwork for this latest achievement can be traced back to 1992 where Wellman turned in a number of stellar performances. He won his second straight NCAA championship, was fifth in Barcelona and then managed to defeat Conley for the first time, placing first at the Mobil IAAF Grand Prix finals in Turin, Italy.

All of this after his career appeared in jeopardy when it was discovered that the athlete had fractured two vertebrae in his back, necessitating the fitting of a brace and several weeks of inactivity.

"A lot of people don't really know what is involved, with regards to the sport,'' said Wellman following a training session this week. "Putting things in perspective, coming from an Island of 60,00 people and being ranked as the fifth best triple jumper on the planet is great.

"I'd like to be fifth in the world in anything.'' For Wellman though, the train does not stop here as he sets his sights on improving still further.

Endless hours of practice -- he claimed to have jumped 55 feet from a shortened run-up on Wednesday -- are aimed at improving his technique further, to the point where he may be ranked number one with the ultimate goal of breaking the world record.

Already this year the Arkansas University senior has won a local meet in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and placed sixth in Stuttgart, Germany. The next big outing will be the World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Toronto's SkyDome next month.

Said Wellman:"It all takes time and you have to be patient and put in the effort.

"I'm hopeful of a World indoor and outdoor medal.

"It's all in the process. You can't expect Olympic and World championship overnight.'' Injuries had dogged Wellman up until recently, but aside from that his major problems had been in his run-up and his penchant for fouling or taking off far in front of the board.

His current training regimen is geared to rectify these things and better synchronise the sequence of the hop-skip-jump.

"Technically I'm working on keeping my speed going through the every phase and have that translate into a further jump,'' said Wellman. "The key is to be at a consistent maximum speed throughout and at the board.'' On his ability to compete against the world's elite Wellman emphasised the respect shown him by the big-name jumpers. And he said that to win against these guys everything has to come together from beginning to end.

"You have to have your game plan in place and execute it when the time comes.

"I've competed against a lot of the big names already and know I can beat them. I'm jumping well and getting better, which is the key to more successes.'' While he hopes to be around for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Wellman's short-range goal is aimed at clearing 58 feet this year and being ranked in the top three.

Bermudians may get a chance to see Wellman at the Heritage Track Meet in May, although that all hinges on the state of the track and whether a runway for the triple jump is installed.

BRIAN WELLMAN -- Highest world ranking ever for a Bermudian athlete.