By Gary Smith, World-Track
Bochum-Wattenscheid — St Kitts and Nevis’ former World 100-metres champion Kim Collins landed the sprint double at the DAK Leichtathletik-Gala meeting in Bochum-Wattenscheid on Sunday.
At the same meeting, Germany’s World Championships medal favourite Ariane Friedrich won the women’s high jump with a clearance of 1.99m.
"I am satisfied with my performance today," said Friedrich, who was defeated by Blanka Vlasic of Croatia in Monaco last week. "1.99 meters is not so bad."
Friedrich, who is set to battle with reigning champion Vlasic in Berlin, leads the world with a mark of 2.06m.
On the track, Collins, the 2003 world champion and 2005 bronze medallist over 100m, clocked a wind-aided 10.08 seconds (+2.3m/s) to take a very close straightaway dash over American Mark Jelk (10.09) and Portugal’s Francis Okikwelu (10.10).
The 33-year-old returned to complete the double in a slight head-wind with a seasonal best run of 20.45 secs. Germans Alexander Kosenkow (20.60) and Aleixo-Platini Menga (20.66) were second and third, respectively.
"My aim is to win a medal and once again be a medalist at the World Championships,” Collins said. "I want to go to Berlin and be one of the guys to return with hardware.
"I am very positive about it and you have to believe in it to achieve it.
He added: "I am feeling a lot better and more confident. If I could get one more (race) before Berlin and go under 10 seconds, it would increase my chances."
Meanwhile, Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson, who underwent surgery for her knee late last year, finished second in the women’s 100m in 11.12 secs.
She was beaten by Germany’s Verena Sailer, who edged in front in 11.11.
Jamaal Torrance of United States won the men’s 400m, running 45.87, while Yvette Lewis of United States won the women’s 100m hurdles in12.87 – relegating world-leader Lolo Jones (13.22) to third.
In the field, German medal favourite in Berlin, Christina Obergfoll, won the women’s Javelin with a mark of 60.33m.
