"I'M definitely determined to come back from this," vowed a defiant Jamie Baulch after being forced to pull out of the 400m at the Commonwealth Games with a hamstring injury.

Baulch says he knows he has the character and belief to rise back to the dizzy heights of 1999, when the Risca flier was crowned world indoor 400m champion, despite his latest setback which has temporarily ruled him out of Manchester 2002.

Baulch, 29, is hoping the strain in his left hamstring will heal in time to allow him to run in the 4x400m relay early next week, but after swallowing his disappointment he added: "I am going to make sure I that I do not end my career because of injuries, I have the character to come back.

"I was really up for this, the mind is willing, but the body just couldn't respond."

Baulch was forced to withdraw from the 400m yesterday after both the Welsh team doctor and a Commonwealth Games medic advised him not to run.

The problem with Baulch's hamstring started last Monday when he picked up an injury and despite plenty of treatment and physio, the leg didn't respond to treatment in time.

It is a bitter blow for Baulch after going out of the heats at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, as well as the World Championships last year in Edmonton. Being forced to withdraw from the Commonwealth Games is a hard knock, but he was in no mood for sympathy.

With training partner and fellow Welsh sprinter Iwan Thomas withdrawing from the 400m after struggling for form this season, Baulch reflected on the highs and lows of athletics. He said: "When you are out there competing well, athletics is the best sport on earth and it's so hard when things don't go well.

"Iwan (Thomas) is in the same boat, he's just as disappointed as I am, but Roger Black was out for years with injury, but he came back to win an Olympic silver, so it can be done.

"It's so frustrating, when I am on top form some of the guys competing at these Games couldn't get near me, there are no really quick times out there at the moment and it really makes it so frustrating not being able to get out there and show people."

Baulch is clearly some way short of the form he showed during the balmy Olympic heat of Georgia in 1996 when his blistering second leg of 44.19 secs took Britain to silver in a record European time, especially as his personal best is 44.57 secs.

But even last summer, Baulch ran an encouraging 44.4 secs in the final of the 4x400m for Great Britain at the Edmonton World Championships and the signs are there that he can make a solid return to top form.

With no 400m place at next month's European Championships in Munich, Baulch must make sure the body is right next season before the mind can start thinking about the success he has known.

The withdrawal of both Baulch and Thomas, means that Wales has only Tim Benjamin in the 400m semi-finals which start today after the Cardiff AC athlete took fourth in the second qualifying heat with a time of 46.54 secs.

* Pictured: Mark Lewis Francis (right) leads the field out of the blocks during the 100m heats yesterday