Yomi Omogbeja (02/07/2004)

Ghanaian sprinter, Aziz Zakari underlined his new-found form at the right time – exactly six weeks to the Athens Olympics– with a Golden League win in Rome.

Zakari won his second 100-meter race of the year in a season-best time of 10.10 seconds at the Golden Gala in Rome today, beating world champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis to a third place.

He told reporters at the end of the race he “wished the Olympics was tonight.”

“I was prepared to win today. I am happy because my training partner Tonique Williams also won today, so we are on top of the world,” Zakari said.

The Golden Gala is the second in a series of six Golden League meets this year. Athletes who pick up victories in a particular event at all six events win a $1 million jackpot.

Other African winners at the meet include two-time world champion Hestrie Cloete of South Africa who won the high jump with a meet-record leap of 6 feet, 8 inches.