The national long jump and 100m champion has been unable to shake a series of injuries to his right leg.
An ankle injury, which has hampered him in his meetings over the past two weeks in the North Island, proved the final blow.
It followed a foot strain early in the summer, as well as a hamstring tightening
early in the new year.
The Ariki athlete withdrew from the Cooks Classic long jump competition at the weekend after three jumps, his only legal attempt being recorded at 7.15m.
He had planned on competing at this weekend’s Capital Classic in Wellington, but instead has come home.
While not ruling out a return for the national championships, Veitch felt it was likely the end of his season.
"Fortunately, age is on my side," the 21-year-old said.
"I have plenty of good seasons ahead of me. I won’t be giving up any time soon.
"It’s just going to be probably another year, which I’m OK with. I’ve had to be patient this whole season with all the injuries coming up.
"I just have to be patient a bit longer. It’s tough, but that’s what comes with the sport."
It was a frustrating end to a summer that had promised so much for Veitch.
A late bloomer in the sport, he has made significant gains over each of the past three seasons.
That looked set to continue as he leapt 7.80m on his return from his foot injury just before Christmas.
It was a 9cm personal best, an Otago senior men’s record, and made him just the sixth New Zealander to reach that mark.
It also left him eyeing Commonwealth Games and World Championship qualification.
However, the personal best was enough to leave him content with the season, despite the post-Christmas frustrations.
"Coming into every season the first goal is just to PB. So at least I can take that away.
"Now I just have to dig into another winter. I believe there were massive distances this season, had I been able to stay healthy.
"So, in order to do that again, I’m just going to need another good winter and I’ll be jumping further than ever.
"But of course there’s no point talking myself up now, because that’s a long way away."
His plan now was to get himself injury-free, although he would still do what he could.
That was likely to be limited to gym work at first.
"I’ll probably get into that when I get home, so I don’t go crazy.
"But the first goal is just to get healthy and get back into some proper training.
"The last six months, I’ve only had a month or two of actually good training. It’s really hindered any sort of buildup into these meets.
"I just need a big nice block of training in winter again.
"That had me in good shape towards the end of last year.
"I know what I have to do. It’ll take a while, but I have no doubt I’ll be there next season."
