BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SON OF THE SOIL, Kim Collins. retained his place among world champions in Rome yesterday (May 31) nine years after he became world champion in France in 2003.
At the IAAF Diamond League in Rome on Thursday, he placed 4th in the 100m at a time of 10.05 secs, his best for the year - up from the 10.19 secs and 10. 17 secs he had achieved last week in Ostrava, (Czech Republic) and Rabat (Morocco)
As described by an eyewitness reporter, “Kim Collins came blistering out of the blocks, but was eventually overpowered by Asafa Powell and Bolt, the triple Olympic champion comfortably finishing ahead of his compatriot Powell. Christophe LeMaitre was third in his season's best of 10.04."
The results were as follows:
1, Usain Bolt, Jamaica, 9.76 seconds. 2. Asafa Powell, Jamaica, 9.91. 3, Christophe Lemaitre, France, 10.04. 4, Kim Collins, St. Kitts and Nevis, 10.05. 5, Lerone Clarke, Jamaica, 10.16.
Collins predicted that it would be a fast race – "If you look at who's in the race tomorrow, it should be a great race, you need to be really fast to win," he said. ”It's an Olympic year and everyone wants to be in the best shape possible."
Over a dozen world champions had descended on Rome to participate in the IAAF Diamond League World Challenge Meet. These meets are all leading up to the London Summer Olympics 2012 and athletes are eager to hone their skills and test the competition as a prelude to Summer Olympics when they are expected to peak.
Collins can now boast of an outstanding and possibly the most enduring record of any athlete in recent times.
He has been 4 Times an Olympian finalist, has made 9 World Championship Appearances outdoors gaining 5 medals; and 2 world indoor appearances gaining 2 silver medals. He has also been 3 Times NCAA Champion.
Wherever he goes on the world athletic stage, he commands respect and is now often described as the “evergreen veteran” or the “experienced star”. On Twitter, one person commented that he was the 36 year old athlete with the twenty year old legs!
After an extremely busy and successful week, Kim is expected to return home (St. Kitts) to participate in the National Invitational & Club Championships being held on Sunday June 3 at the Silver Jubilee Stadium.
Once again SKNVibes and the entire Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis extend congratulations to Kim and best wishes for even further success at the upcoming Olympics in July/August 2012.
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