Kim Collins arrived in the Territory late last night, May 28, 2013, to compete in the BVI Twlight Invitational Meet on Satrurday June 1, 2013 on the back of a 10.26 100m win in the City of Manchester Games last weekend and a 10.04 performance in Qatar. Photo: Provided

On the down side, the Meet has lost the match of the Virgin Islands' speedsters with the withdrawal through injury of Laverne Jones-Ferrette. Photo: Provided

Kim Collins, who confessed to being in the best shape of his life, is expected to face stiff competition from Jamaica's Dexter Lee, among others. Photo: Provided

After a very long flight from the United Kingdom, Collins was looking forward to a good night’s rest and said it was good to be back in the Caribbean although the weather in England had been unusually good up until the day of his departure.

Collins competed in the Manchester Great City Games in England last weekend and stormed to victory in the 100m on a track suspended above the packed streets, with spectators just inches away from the action.

Collins got off to a wonderful start and easily pulled away from fellow competitors, including British athletes Mark Lewis-Francis and Harry Akins. The 37-year-old athlete finished the race in a time of 10.26 seconds running into a strong headwind to beat his much younger counterparts.

“It was a very different surface,” he said “and I expect a much better time in the Twilight Meet. I ran 10.04 in Qatar just recently so depending on the wind and other conditions you will just have to come out and see what happens,” Collins told Virgin Islands News Online in an exclusive interview.

The former World Champion also took second place in the 150m race behind Christopher Lemaitre of France with just 45 minutes between the races. He ran 15.15 to Lemaitre’s 14.90.

Collins went through the 100 in 10.22 before Lemaitre closed him out over the last 20-30 yards.

St Kitts and Nevis’ Collins will be relaxing this morning before resuming his build up towards the Meet with some light training on the A.O. Shirley Ground in the afternoon and stated that people need to come out and support the event not just to watch his race, but also those featuring many other of the Region’s top athletes. “ An opportunity to run in the Caribbean in front of home crowds doesn’t happen very often,” he noted “yes we have Carifta, but for the Seniors it is a rare opportunity and shouldn’t be missed.”

Collins last ran in the Territory 19 years ago in the Leeward’s Championships and is also hoping that the event will provide an inspiration for the next generation of Athletes. “It is a unique opportunity to see competitors that you may have seen on Television in real life, it will be a great experience and as competitors we will draw from the atmosphere of the crowd. I hope the crowds will come out to witness and support the event.”

Whilst not drawn on a target time for the 100m Collins did say that he is in the best shape of his life, he is looking for a fast time and, of course, to dominate the race.

Collins was the first O.E.C.S athlete to win a World Championship Gold at any level, winning the 100m at the 2003 Worlds and also secured bronzes in the 100m in 2005 and 2011 with further bronzes coming in the 200m in 2001 and the 4 x 100m relay in 2011. He has won two silver medals at the World Indoor Championships over 60 metres in 2001 and 2008.

He won the 100m at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and captured silver at the 2011 pan American Games. At the 2002 World Cup of Athletics, he won silver in the 100 for the Americas team. At the C.A.C Championships he has won two gold medals- the 200m in 2001 and the 100m in 2003. Another bronze C.A.C. medal came in the sprint relay in 2011.

Collins has competed in nine World Championships between 1995 and 2011 and four Olympic Games. In the latter he made it to the finals of the 100m in 2000 and 2004, and the 200 in 2008. His 100m personal best is 9.98 and his season’s best is 10.04.

In the 100m he is expected to face stiff competition from teammate Antoine Adams, Jamaica’s Dexter Lee and Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Armstrong.

In the Women’s races, an injury to the U.S. Virgin Islands’ Laverne Jones-Ferrette has put the first women’s 100m “Battle of the Virgin Islands female sprinters” on home soil with the VI’s Tahesia Harrigan-Scott and Karene King on hold.

“I’m extremely disappointed that I can’t come to the Virgin Islands for this meet because of an injury I got in Shanghai,” Jones-Ferrette said. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to do it next year, but, I wish the organisers well with the meet.”

In better news though, a highlight will be the Women’s 4x100m Relay. In 2010, the BVI’s women’s team of Ashley Kelly, Harrigan-Scott, Chantel Malone and Karene King defeated St. Kitts and now, they will face Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.

Action kicks off at 4 P.M. with field events. A brief opening ceremony is set for 5:30 P.M. Admission is $10 for a one-time entry only. Tickets are on sale at Botanic Service Station, Play to Win, JJJ Gift Shop in Lower Estate, Steve Augustine, Willis Todman and Rosalind Leonard.