Jason Gardener will race in Croatia and Italy next week as he continues his build-up for next month's World Championships in Paris, writes James Pearce. The Bath Bullet flew home yesterday buoyed by Tuesday night's victory in the B race of the Athletissima meeting in Lausanne. The World indoor 60m bronze medallist easily defeated leading US sprinters Mickey Grimes and Shawn Crawford to win in 10.25secs. On a wet and cold night, running into a stiff breeze, it was an impressive display and Gardener believes that after a slow start to the outdoor season he is now firmly on track. He will fly off again on Sunday to prepare himself for Monday's meeting in Zagreb before competing in Rome on Friday evening.Conditions in Croatia should be more conducive to fast times and Gardener knows he needs races ahead of the British World Championship trials in Birmingham later this month. He said: "I've got some big races coming up and I want to be prepared for them. "My performance in Lausanne has given me the right amount of confidence and I know I'm on my way now. "We've lined up those two races next week to hopefully continue my progress and I'm looking forward to them. "My aim is to be right for the World Championships and I need races to help me sharpen up. "Conditions in Zagreb should suit me a lot better and help me to run a faster time." Gardener faces stiff competition from Dwain Chambers, Mark LewisFrancis and Darren Campbell for the three British 100m places at stake in the World Championships but he can take a lot of positives out of Tuesday's display. He added: "I was pleased to have won and happy to have beaten some very good athletes. "It was just unfortunate that I had to run into a very strong head wind but that's typical of my luck at the moment. "It's good to be winning and I feel that I'm starting to move along the right lines. I'm beginning to sharpen up - my start has come back and I'm finishing races well."Victory in yesterday's long jump gave Bath-based decathlete Dale Garland his second gold medal of the NatWest Island Games in Guernsey.The 23-year-old University of Bath student jumped 7.30m - some 46cm further than his nearest competitor - to take his second gold of the Games. He had already won the 400m hurdles final - even though it is not one of the 10 events that features in the decathlon.
