Croydon Harriers’ James Dasaolu is hoping to build on his tremendous season-leading 6.52 seconds 60m indoor run in Düsseldorf last week at the Beijing World Athletic Championships next August.
The terrific season opener was not enough for the 27-year-old to take first however as veteran sprinter Kim Collins prevailed, also in 6.52 seconds, but 0.003 quicker in a photo-finish.
The 2003 World champion just edged out the European 100m champion but Dasaolu was delighted with his performance.
He said: “It was a close race, it was my first outing of the season, but it’s a decent opener.
“I’m not really taking indoors too seriously. I’m just going to do one or two races.”
6.52 season opener can’t complain 🙂 but got to give to @kimcollins100m age best and world lead #Dusseldorf
— James Dasaolu (@JamesDasaolu) January 29, 2015
After a rewarding preseason in South Africa Dasaolu said he was in rude health and hopes that the indoor season will help lay foundations for later this year.
Dasaolu’s main focus for 2015 will be qualification for the World Athletic Championships in Beijing which is a little more than 200 days away in August.
“My soul goal aim is for the outdoor season just to see how things have been going and just break up training a bit.
“But I’m just happy just to be competing and I enjoy competing – it’s lovely.”
On February 21 Dasaolu will be hoping to emulate his career-best 6.47s in Birmingham at the corresponding meeting last year.
Dasaolu, who did not take up sprinting seriously until he was 18, ran 9.91 seconds outdoors for 100m in 2013 and is part of a strong generation of British sprinters which includes Adam Gemili and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
Image courtesy of British Athletics TV via YouTube, with thanks
