Gardener storms to victory

JASON GARDENER showed world-class form yesterday as he sprinted to victory over 60 metres in a time of 6.52 seconds at an indoor meeting in Erfurt, Germany.

The two-times European indoor 60m champion’s time was easily the fastest in the world this year and helped the Bath Bullet finish nearly a metre ahead of Jamaica’s Donovan Powell (6.57secs) with Eric Nkansah of Ghana third in 6.65secs.

Gardener, the 60m record holder with a time of 6.46secs, showed his prowess in his heat by winning in 6.54secs before setting his superb winning time an hour later in the final.

With his eyes firmly set on the World Indoor Championships hosted by Birmingham in March, Gardener said: “I came here to run a quick time. I came here to run fast and I intend getting faster in every race.”

Colin Jackson, who plans to retire at the end of the indoor season after challenging for the world title in Birmingham, was involved in a thrilling 60m hurdles race against Maurice Wignall.

The timekeepers were unable to separate the world record holder and the Jamaican, after the pair crossed the line shoulder-to-shoulder in 7.58secs.

Third place went to Elmar Lichtenegger, beaten into second place on home soil in Vienna by Jackson last March for the European indoor gold medal. The Austrian clocked 7.63sec.