JAMIE Baulch pulls on the Welsh vest for the first time this season on Sunday declaring his intent to put the past behind him - and kick some butt.

Having both returned from warm weather training in America, top sprinters Baulch and Newport's Christian Malcolm will line up for Wales in the Aqua Pura International at Loughborough University.

But Baulch feels he has much to prove after bowing out early from the Sydney Olympics and having to withdraw from Lisbon's World Indoor Championships with a back injury, while watching new-kid on the block Daniel Caines win individual 400m gold.

But Baulch insists he has put the disappointment out of his mind. With American sprint legend Michael Johnson having retired, times over 400 metres this year have been slow compared to previous seasons and Baulch is looking to exploit that this summer.

He said: "A few years ago, the Americans were running 43.5 secs for fun, but with Michael Johnson off the scene, nobody is running really quickly and it annoys me that I wasn't in Lisbon to take advantage."

"I did a 20.9 second 200 metres in Texas - the fastest I've ever run at this time of the season and the signs are good."

"For me the indoor season is now a bit of history, but it has given me a very big focus. I'm looking forward to the season, getting out there and kicking butt.

"My Olympics didn't go well, and with the indoor campaign not going like I wanted it to, it has given me a right kick up the backside."

The warm Texan weather has helped Baulch's back which he aggravated before Lisbon and with the injury hopefully behind him, the Risca flier can concentrate his attention on this August's World Championships in Edmonton.

With fellow 400 metre sprinter Iwan Thomas back from his two year injury nightmare, the friends off the track will become enemy's on it, especially with the approaching British trials for the World Championships to be held in Birmingham this July.

And with Newport's Christian Malcolm on top form after finishing sixth in the Sydney Olympics 200 metre final, the Welsh trio could all bring home medals from Canada.

Baulch said: "At the moment, I'm just fed up and want to get on the track competitively.

"Iwan's obviously thinking like I am, where he wants to prove himself as well. "I've told Christian he will be the next big British sprinter, it's a good time for Welsh athletics.