HIGHGATE Harriers Simeon Williamson burst into contention for gold at the European Indoor Championships in Turin next month with a dazzling victory in the 60m final at Saturday s Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham. Williamson clocked the second fastest time

HIGHGATE Harriers' Simeon Williamson burst into contention for gold at the European Indoor Championships in Turin next month with a dazzling victory in the 60m final at Saturday's Aviva Grand Prix in Birmingham.

Williamson clocked the second fastest time in Europe this year, winning gold in a personal best of 6.53 seconds.

The 23-year-old's scintillating time confirms his position as the top challenger in Italy next month to favourite Dwain Chambers.

"I can mount a challenge against Chambers in Turin," said Williamson, after beating Antigua's Daniel Bailey (6.54secs) in the final to notch his second personal best of the day. "I ran Dwain close at the indoors last year and at the Olympic trials."

Williamson's winning time has only been bettered this year by Chambers' spectacular 6.51secs joint-record time in Sheffield last week. Chambers was ineligible to compete in Birmingham on Saturday because of a drugs ban.

And Williamson, who trained in Jamaica for part of the winter with the group of former world record-holder Asafa Powell, believes he can build on his impressive form.

"The trials were only my third race so I hadn't had enough races in me," added Williamson. "But now I am flying. Two personal bests and a victory - you could say it has been a good day."

The Harrier qualified for Saturday's final, clocking a best of 6.56secs when second in his heat to Bailey (6.54secs).

But Williamson turned the tables on Bailey in the final to improve on his third place to Chambers in last week's 60m European Indoor Trials final.

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