Triple jumper Brian Wellman knows from experience how to peak for the big events. But the key to his success during the upcoming season will be staying healthy and free of injuries.

Wellman, who left Bermuda yesterday after three weeks of relaxation back home, will soon be back in training with coach Dick Booth in Arkansas in preparation of the indoor season which starts in January.

"It's a lot to do with staying healthy,'' said Wellman yesterday before heading to the airport.

Injuries over the last couple of seasons have included bunions on his right foot, hamstring problems this year and and a rib complaint.

"Obviously injuries play a big part in performances which haven't gone my way in the past couple of years,'' Wellman conceded. "I always like to perform at a better level than I have been.'' At 30, Wellman thinks there is still plenty of time to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming the top triple jumper in the world. He expects to be sixth or seventh in the soon to be released world rankings.

"I'll take it a year at a time,'' says Wellman, trying not to put too much pressure on himself.

"Kenny Harrison had the furthest jump of his life last year and he's 31 so there is no telling. Troy (Douglas) just ran a national record and he's 34 and (Jamaican sprinter) Merlene Ottey just ran a lifetime PR and she's 36, so you don't know.'' Wellman was fifth at the World Outdoor Championships in Greece in August with his best jump of the year of 56-feet, six-inches (17.22 metres).

"Last year I jumped 57-10 at the worlds and 57-10 at the worlds this year was a medal,'' he noted.

"Putting together consistent performances and workouts is the important factor.

"If you can't work out and take three weeks off in the middle of a phase where you have to do rehab and you're not training then it doesn't help you to perform.

"It's a case of staying healthy, getting in shape and giving yourself a chance to perform at the level which you know you're capable of.'' These days a medal performance is never guaranteed with so many world class triple jumpers on the circuit.

They include Kenny Harrison, gold medallist at the Atlanta Olympics, world record holder Jonathan Edwards of Britain, Russia's Denis Kapustin and the Cuban trio of Yoelvis Quesada, Aliecer Urrutia and Joel Garcia. Urrutia set a new world indoor record in Germany in March.

"It's not a case of competition being more keen,'' Wellman stressed.

"Everybody was there in the past few years, except Kenny (Harrison) who has been injured on and off but he had a good year in 1996. Obviously he didn't jump this year like he wanted to at the worlds.'' Wellman, who finished ahead of Harrison in Greece, usually saves his best performances for the major events. He followed up his fifth place in the worlds with a fourth at the Zurich Grand Prix which was won by Quesada with a jump of 17.29 metres. Wellman had a best jump of 16.99 metres.

"I always perform my best jump of the year or near my best jump of the year at the major meets which is what counts,'' he says.

"It's not a matter of me going there and performing badly. My best jump this year was in the World Championships and it was the same in the past two championships and the (1996) Olympic Games. I know how to peak, that's not a problem, but it's just a matter of showing up at the meets and being healthy.'' The top jumper admits good jumps don't always guarantee medals.

"People don't always remember performances unless it's a world record, but records they remember.

"In triple jump at the moment you can perform and not get a medal which is alright, but you always would like to get some hardware.

"I say go for the medals and the performances will take care of themselves.'' Bermuda's other international track star, sprinter Troy Douglas, who is based in Holland, got married last week in the Netherlands.

BRIAN WELLMAN -- hoping to steer clear of injuries in the upcoming season.