With the World Championships in Athletics beginning this weekend in Helsinki, Finland, World Champion Kim Collins has proclaimed the men's 100m a wide open affair. The diminutive and unassuming sprinter from St Kitts-Nevis feels that with the withdrawal of fellow Caribbean competitor and World Record holder, Asafa Powell, this could be anyone's race. Olympic cxhampion Justin Gatlin of the United States is the new favourite for the men's century title, with Trinidad & Tobago's Marc Burns the leading competitor from the Caribbean this year. But 31-year-old Collins is used to being the underdog, and as the most highly decorated athlete from St Kitts-Nevis, he is ready for anything. Collins is the only athlete from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States to win a World title. They wear different uniforms and sing different anthems, but the success of any OECS athlete is the pride of the sub-region. This year, the nine-member groupins is sending 12 athletes to the Championships. Collins aside, 2004 Olympic 400m finalist Alleyne Francique is the strongest medal hope from the OECS. Representing Grenada, the tall, elegant Francique has quietly put together a season that should have him in a confident frame of mind in the coming days. A medal of some colour is certainly within Francique's ability. Three sub-regional female quarter-milers have made the cut for Helsinki. Grenada's Hazel-Ann Regis, St Kitts-Nevis' Tiandra Ponteen and St Vincent & the Grenadines teenager Kineke Alexander are creating a nice one-lap tradition in these small islands. Ranging in age from 19 to 24, they have been improving steadily. Levern Spencer has been having an extraordinary season. The 21-year-old St Lucian was the Central American and Caribbean women's High Jump champion last month. She is the Caribbean's leading performer in her event, and the former World Youth Championship medallist is hopeful of at least making the finals in Helsinki. OECS COMPETITORS Men: Kim Collins - SKN (100, 10.00) Daniel Bailey - ANT (100, 10.19) Dion Crabbe - IVB (200, NT) Alleyne Francique - GRN (400, 44.47) Zepherinus Joseph - LCA (MAR, 2:16:44) Randy Lewis - GRN (TJ, 17.34m) Women: Tahesia Harrigan - IVB (100, 11.29) Hazel-Ann Regis - GRN (400, 50.64) Tiandra Ponteen - SKN (400, 50.83) Kineke Alexander - VIN (400, 51.71) Neisha Bernard-Thomas - GRN (800, 2:01.07) Levern Spencer - LCA (HJ, 1.94m) Reprinted from oecsathlete.com