Super challenge for restless Collins

SEVEN years removed from the golden night in Paris when he became world 100 metres champion, few would begrudge Kim Collins the opportunity to rest on such laurels.

At the age of 34, and with only an Olympic medal missing from his collection, the man who ran a personal best 9.98 seconds to capture the Commonwealth Games gold in Manchester requires no further validation. Back in his native St Kitts, he can look out from the house he had built and view the highway christened in his name. The status of national treasure is secure.

Yet having retired from international competition last summer, Collins cannot simply walk away.

"If I wasn't here, I'd be sitting at home going crazy," he admits. Rather than risk the onset of lunacy, he will compete tonight at Glasgow's Scotstoun Stadium in the Super 8 meeting.

"And although his long-time regime of getting up before dawn to train is gradually losing its lustre, the Barcelona-bound trio Mark Lewis-Francis, Craig Pickering and Christian Malcolm - plus Scotland's Nick Smith - should prepare themselves for a scrap.

With each of the eight city-based teams allowed one overseas guest, Collins will represent Sheffield in a format that UK Athletics is hoping to roll out on a more regular basis.

"Modelled on Twenty20 cricket, it is rock & roll athletics, repackaged for a new era in which track and field is no longer box office gold.

"It's a good way to go," Collins declared. "You need mix athletics up to make the fans stay interested and to bring in a format that gets new people into the sport. What fans don't like, in my opinion, is that too many races have become too predictable. You come to an event and you know already who is going to win.

"That's de-motivating. You want that uncertainty and that excitement. In times past, it wasn't so obvious.

"We have people like Usain Bolt, who are out-doing the rest. But that's a challenge to everyone else."

Bolt, like Collins before him, has emerged from the Caribbean's seemingly endless production line of sprinting talent. There is more to come, he notes. Each island has its torchbearers and they, in turn, inspire others to follow in their ultra-fleeting footsteps.

"A lot is down to them going to college in America and leaving home," notes the Kittian. "They're picking up the knowledge in the USA as well as picking up a different point of view. Plus when you go to a different country, you have more motivation to train without the distractions of friends and family."

With his own days on the starting block heading to their close, Collins has one eye on his own succession plan. Already mentor to a group of athletes in his homeland, he is open to offers to share his expertise.

"If I get a call from this country, in Scotland even, I'll be there," he declares. "But it's something I want to do. I can't relax. When I go home, I try to put my points across to the young kids and show them how to do well. I love this sport. So I'll hang around until they drag me away."

Lee McConnell captains the Glasgow Cobras, who have enlisted world hurdles champion Lolo Jones of the USA as their foreign recruit, while other imports in the 20-event schedule that begins at 7pm include Atlanta Olympic gold medallist Allen Johnson and American sprinter Lauryn Williams. z(