Clarke wins 60m

LIéVIN, France (CMC):

Commonwealth Games 100 metres champion, Lerone Clarke, set a personal season-best time yesterday.

The Jamaican sprinter clocked 6.59 seconds to win the men's 60 metres dash at the Pas de Calais Indoor Meet at the Couvert Regional Stadium in France.

"I am very happy with my performance today. With each race, I am gaining more confidence," said Clarke, who ran 6.64 seconds in the heats.

"My ultimate goal this year is to do everything I can to get ready for Jamaican trials and to represent my country at the (outdoor) World Championships."

American Mike Rodgers came second in 6.60 and Kim Collins of St Kitts & Nevis proved there is still life left in the old man yet, to take third in one hundredth-of-a-second behind.

Clarke's compatriot Vonette Dixon had to settle for second place in the women's 60m hurdles.

She clocked 8.02 to trail American Kellie Wells (7.85) and finished ahead of Derval O'Rourke of Ireland (8.03).

Ryan Shields, another Jamaican, finished third in the men's 200 metres B-Race. He ran 21.50 and was beaten by race winner Roman Smirnov of Russia (21.18) and Aziz Ouhadi of Morocco (21.19), respectively.