Government Sports Awards presentation last night at the Princess Hotel.

It was the eighth time a track star has won the top award since the ceremony began in 1980-81.

Wellman, who also won Achievement Awards in 1987-88 and 1990-91, was presented with the most significant award of all by the Premier John Swan following outstanding achievements in 1992, which earned him a number five world ranking during that period.

The achievements include a third-place finish in the triple jump at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I indoor championships last March in Indianapolis.

Wellman followed that up by repleating as champion in the NCAA Outdoor Division I Championships in Austin, Texas, as he established the highest United States National Collegiate Achievement in his event.

The following month, the 25-year-old Wellman continued his good form in Nice, France, when he placed second in yet another IAAF Grand Prix meet.

Also in July, he placed fourth in the IAAF Grand Prix meet in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The University of Arkansas student also placed fifth in last year's Olympics as he established a new Bermuda record in the process. Wellman closed out his best year last September by winning the IAAF Grand Prix finals in Turin, Italy, thus upping his Bermuda record to 17.25 metres (56 feet, seven-and-a-quarter inches).

With so much going on competition-wise, Wellman admitted he does not have much time to think about winning awards.

"I didn't ponder my chances because there are other things I want to get accomplished, like winning an Olympic gold medal, setting a world record and being consistently ranked in the top 10 in the world,'' Wellman said afterwards.

"I feel good in the same respect because it means that all my efforts and hard work were not in vain and that my accomplishments were not overlooked.

I've been performing in some far-flung places of the world.'' Wellman gave thanks to his sponsors, Bank of Butterfield, for helping to ease a tremendous financial burden. "After university in order to maintain that level you've got to go to Europe and Europe is not cheap,'' he said.

He said his best year so far was 1992, but quickly adds: "My best years are in front of me.'' The 1996 Olympics are one of the top priorities.

Five categories of achievement were recognised last night, including a Special Achievement award, which was presented to the first time to the Bermuda Broadcasting Company who, incidently, broke new ground by televising the event live.

This award was given at the discretion of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Recreation and was not one of the categories discussed by the committee. It is not a regular part of the Annual Awards scheme.

Two other track stars, Troy Douglas and Jennifer Fisher, received Achievement Awards. It was the fourth such award for Fisher who also won one last year while Douglas, who is abroad, also won an Achievement Award in 1987-88.

Douglas won the 400 metres at the Canadian Invitational Meet in British Columbia in June of last year as his time of 45.54 seconds established new Canadian All-Comers and Bermuda records.

He was a semifinalist in the 400 metres at the Olympic Games while, also in August, he lowered the Bermuda record he set in June when he ran 45.37 in the IAAF Grant Prix event in Koblenz, Germany.

Douglas then capped his year in Havana, Cuba, by capturing a silver medal as part of the 4x400 metres Americas World Cup relay team.

Fisher's achievements last year include winning the 1,500 metres in the Heritage Invitational Meet at the National Stadium and then establishing a new Bermuda record in the 10,000 metres in the Canadian Track and Field Championships in a time of 39:21.

Then in British Columbia in August, Fisher placed fourth in the 5-K in her age group before finishing third in the Virginia Beach five-mile event.

Jimmy Amos, a former awards committee member and also a former Olympian, and Fritz Reiter, for his contribution to golf as sponsor of the Lobster Pot Invitational for the past 11 years, received special achievement awards.

Soccer club PHC and long-time golf administrator and participant Maurice (Bill) Pitt were presented with Sports Citation awards.

In December of this year the awards format will change so that the entire scheme will coincide with the calendar year, instead of between October 1 and September 30 of any given year.

MAN OF THE MOMENT -- Track star Brian Wellman shows his prize after being crowned top athlete for 1991-92.