Chambers fastest in 100m heats at World Trials

By Ryan Bangs in Birmingham

DWAIN Chambers was solid, if unspectacular, as he eased through the 100m heats at the Aviva UK Athletics Championships as the quickest qualifier.

GOOD ENOUGH: Dwain Chambers was happy with his first round 100m performance at the Aviva UK Championships in Birmingham (Getty Images)

The European indoor champion won with ease in 10.20 seconds - a time that won't strike fear into his world rivals but still eclipsed the best in Britain.

Simeon Williamson was four hundredths slower and Tyrone Edgar and Craig Pickering were the third and fourth fastest into Saturday's semi-finals.

Chambers must finish in the top two tomorrow to secure his place on Great Britain's World Championship team and give himself a chance to deliver on his much talked about ‘Project Bolt' in Berlin.

"Obviously it is just the heats but the most important thing is to get them out of the way and make sure I am ready for tomorrow," he said.

"The World Championships are extremely important and it is something that has been high on the agenda all season for me.

"I know everyone wants to see a sub-ten performance and I want one as well but I know I am going to have some stiff competition no matter what the times are.

"I just need to keep my cool - these guys are a lot younger than me and more energetic I am getting a bit old now. But I am going to go down fighting.

"Simeon and i have a good rivalry and he's excited about beating me but over 100m I'm confident, that is my domain."

Pickering, who failed to reach the semi-finals at last year's Olympics, admitted there was work to do after crossing the line in 10.28 secs, one hundredth slower than Edgar.

Rising stars Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, a former world youth champion, and Leevan Yearwood were fifth and sixth quickest in 10.29 secs and 10.36 secs respectively.

"Obviously I would have loved to have won in order to get a good lane in the semi-finals but I am happy with how I performed so second is good enough," said Pickering.

"My reaction time was quite slow but I am feeling good and I expect things to get a lot quicker in the semis and finals."