http://sport.guardian.co.uk/athletics/story/0,10082,1478604,00.html
David Martin Saturday May 7, 2005 The Guardian The Olympic gold medallist Mark Lewis-Francis is hoping to get his outdoor season off to a flying start in Jamaica today. Lewis-Francis, who ran the anchor leg in the sprint relay in Athens last summer, contests his first 100 metres of the season at an international meeting in Kingston. The 22-year-old will line up against the reigning world champion Kim Collins as well as the highly talented Asafa Powell, of Jamaica, and Trinidad's Darrel Brown. As well as wanting to compete in front of his father, who lives nearby, Lewis-Francis has another target in mind. The Birchfield Harrier wants to make amends for being disqualified in last season's European Cup final and is looking to earn selection for this year's event in Florence in June. "If they pick me, they pick me, but really what is important is that I run a fast time in my first race. That's what's on my mind," said Lewis-Francis. The selectors are set to announce the Great Britain team for the European Cup on June 7 and will take early season form into account - particularly the finishing order at the international match in Glasgow two days earlier. Last year Lewis-Francis got their vote but then suffered the indignity of producing two false starts which saw him excluded. Great Britain ended up a disappointing fourth overall. "Of course I'd like to be chosen again," he said. "It's an honour to run for my country." At the back of his mind, though, Lewis-Francis must be wondering whether the selectors will opt for a safety-first policy and choose a more consistent starter, which might see Jason Gardener get the spot for Italy. The Bath sprinter, who won a third successive European indoor 60m title in March, insists Great Britain's sprint standards are still high despite the disappointment of not a single man reaching either the Olympic 100m or 200m final last year. "All of the top sprinters in Britain are going out there to prove themselves," he said. "That's certainly my aspiration and my first aim of the summer is I want to run the 100m in the European Cup." The 29-year-old will leave for a training camp in Greece soon before competing there on May 30. "It's very important for me to run a 100m race on that weekend to get myself back into racing shape," said Gardener. "Greece is my first race and Glasgow is going to be my second. I suppose who runs the quickest or whoever comes out top in Glasgow will get the cup slot. That I suppose is a fair way to select the spot." ENDS
