Gardener: Fast start to the season

British sprinter Jason Gardener put in a world-class run to start his indoor season with a win over 60m in Erfurt, Germany.

The twice European indoor champion's time of 6.52 seconds is easily the fastest in the world this year.

And it helped the "Bath Bullet" finish a metre ahead of Jamaica's Donovan Powell, with Eric Nkansah, of Ghana, third.

Gardener, who has his eyes set on the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, was content with his performance.

"I came here to run a quick time. I came here to run fast and I intend getting faster in every race," he said.

Colin Jackson, who plans to retire at the end of the indoor season after challenging for the world title in Birmingham, was involved in a thrilling 60m hurdles race against Maurice Wignall.

The timekeepers were unable to separate the world record holder and the Jamaican, after the pair crossed the line shoulder-to-shoulder in 7.58s.

Third place went to Elmar Lichtenegger, beaten into second place on home soil in Vienna by Jackson last March for the European indoor gold medal.

The Austrian clocked 7.63s.