Not Kim Collins. <\/p>\n
As the 2015 season begins in earnest, the evergreen sprinter lines up against the world\u2019s best on Friday night in Doha in the form of his life and keen to add the Diamond Trophy to the list of honours that he\u2019s secured over a career spanning 18 years and counting.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy goal is to try to win the Diamond Race, just like everyone else,\u201d says the man from St Kitts. \u201cIt\u2019s important to get in early and come here, get top three and collect the points and try your best to get into the other Diamond League meetings and continue to get points at them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such a positive mindset has served the 2003 world 100m champion well over the years and he remains in confident mood as his first major race of the season approaches.<\/p>\n
\u201cTwo years ago I was here and I opened up really well,\u201d he recalls. \u201cI ran 10.0 and I was 4th or 5th. It was a monster field and there\u2019s another top field here again. You understand that it\u2019s going to be a fast race. \u201c<\/p>\n
Collins has only one thing in mind: \u201cI want to win it. If I didn\u2019t feel that I could, then I wouldn\u2019t be here. I want to target Beijing, but you have to do a lot of damage before that. You can\u2019t just show up and win it. You have to be out here competing with the rest of the field. \u201c<\/p>\n
The prospect of competing in the Chinese capital is an interesting one, as Collins has been engaged in a protracted dispute with his federation which has seen him fail to race in any major championships since 2011 in Daegu.<\/p>\n
Happily, an end to the stand-off is in sight.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019ve been many discussions and I\u2019m confident that we\u2019re going to get it sorted out so that I can go to Rio and also Beijing,\u201d he reveals. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long time now and it\u2019s important to put everything in the past and move on. I\u2019m very positive about it and I\u2019m hoping that we can get it over with it. We just need to wait for the final word.\u201d<\/p>\n
The self-described \u201clate bloomer\u201d opened his outdoor season last week at an invitational event in Manchester (UK) and feels ready to take on the rest of the world, having clocked a modest 10.33.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe time doesn\u2019t make me look good,\u201d Collins confesses. \u201cBut also I don\u2019t think it was a clear reflection of where I\u2019m at physically.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a fast race, so coming here I feel a lot more positive, a lot stronger and the weather is ideal for sprinting. I want to run faster \u2013 faster than the competition and faster than I\u2019ve ever run before. I\u2019ve been able to go 9.99, 9.98, 97, 96, so I guess 95 is coming! I\u2019m definitely looking forward to doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
With 2014 Diamond Race winner Justin Gatlin in the field alongside European Champion James Dasaolu and Jamaica\u2019s Olympic gold medalist Nesta Carter, Collins knows victory will be difficult, but believes that he can rise to the occasion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho\u2019d have believed that an athlete my age would still be doing it? I had a great indoor season and I can still compete against the rest of the world. You can\u2019t count yourself out or the opposition. While you\u2019re still there, the opportunity exists.\u201d<\/p>\n
And as well as Diamond Race points available, there are fast times in prospect, whether it be this week or later in the season.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone has the potential to go under 10. If everyone has a good day, we\u2019re going to see a really fast race. I see the race coming where 8 men go under 10. It\u2019s going to happen soon.\u201d<\/p>\n
It all starts in Doha.<\/p>\n
Dean Hardman for the IAAF Diamond League
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