Such mistakes are bad enough over 100m, but over 60m they are almost always conclusive. Not on this occasion.

Although relative youngster Mike Rodgers of the United States, the 30-year-old who had won the first two IAAF World Indoor Tour 60m races in Karlsruhe and Boston, got away well, he was overhauled by the smooth technique of the man from St Kitts and Nevis, who moved from last to first in the space of the last 40 metres, clocking 6.56, just 0.02 faster than his qualifying time.

Rodgers was second in 6.58, ahead of fellow US sprinter Joe Morris (6.59).

“Getting away slow is better than being disqualified,” said Collins, the 2003 world 100m champion who turns 40 in April. “But I wanted to run better than that. When you see the crowd excited like they are tonight, you want to have a great run. It didn’t happen – but there you are.”