Simpson won the sprint at Crystal Palace in 22.70 seconds, while world champion Allyson Felix of the United States was fourth in 23.00secs.

"To get a win so close to the Olympics is very good psychologically," said Simpson, who was slowed by injuries for much of 2007. "My past two races weren't good, so having this win against some good competition is a great boost for me."

Bianca Knight, a 19-year-old American, was second in 22.79, and Debbie Ferguson of the Bahamas was third in 22.84. But Simpson had little trouble with her competition yesterday. "Technically, my race was very good. I knew on the bend I was going to win or be very close to winning," Simpson said. "I am fit and well and ready to do my best in Beijing."

The Olympics open on Aug. 8, and Felix will be there to compete in the 200m despite failing to qualify for the US team in the 100m. She declined to speak to reporters yesterday until after the women's 4x100m relay.

The men's 100m was also still to come, with former world record holder Asafa Powell winning his opening heat in 10.06 secs. World champion Tyson Gay is skipping the event because he still recovering from the hamstring injury he picked up at the US trials last month, leaving Powell as the favourite.

Today Usain Bolt will run in his favoured 200m. The Jamaican set a world record in the 100m in May, but opted out of competing at that distance in London and says he's still undecided if he'll run the 100m at the Olympics.

In the men's mile, Shedrack Korir led all the way around the final lap to win in 3:54.68. The Kenyan held off Andrew Baddeley down the final stretch, with the Briton finishing in 3:54.76. Bernard Lagat, world champion in the 1500m and 5000m from the United States, was third in 3:55.20.

Kelly Sotherton of Britain took the lead in the women's four-event challenge with 1,102 points by winning the long jump with a leap of 6.79m on her second attempt. The jump was a personal best for Sotherton, who won the bronze medal in the Heptathlon at the 2004 Athens Olympics. "I have had so many issues this year with injury and illness, so I am delighted to jump a PB like that today," Sotherton said. "It is exactly where I need to be for the Olympics."

Funmi Jimoh of the United States was in second place with 1,033 points after a jump of 6.58m, and Gi-Gi Johnson of the United States was third with 949 points and jump of 6.32m.

Meanwhile, Chris Tomlinson may be living on the doorstep of the celebrity set but the long jumper insists performance is more important to him than fame.

Tomlinson heads to the Olympics confident he can improve on the fifth place he earned in Athens four years ago and has promised to deliver a personal best in Crystal Palace today.

The 26-year-old, who has quickly settled into life in well-heeled north London district Hampstead, knows what an Olympic medal will do for his profile. But he is convinced his laid-back personality ensures he would shun the bright lights in favour of a more down-to-earth existence.

"I love being in Hampstead, it's very nice. I'm not into the celebrity life but I do see Ricky Gervais around sometimes," he said.

"I've seen Russell Brand too. I doubt they recognise me – they probably see me as that big tall guy.

"They must think I'm gay as I walk my Shih Tzu dog – especially as I'm on Hampstead Heath.

"I'm not bothered by fame or anything like that. It doesn't appeal to me – I like to go to the track, train hard and spend time with my friends and family.

"My ideal dinner guest would be my friends and family. I just want to fulfil my potential and walk away knowing I've given it my all.

"Do you want to be on the front page or the back page? Personally I want to be on the back page. I'm not into the fame. Obviously an Olympic medal would put you into that world but I'll see what happens when I get there."

"I feel I'm close to reaching my potential and that I am starting to come good at the right time."

Tomlinson's form this season has been patchy, topped by a silver medal at the world indoor championships in Valencia. But while he realises he is not currently viewed as a potential gold medallist in Beijing, he is ready to show he is a genuine contender by eclipsing his personal best of 8.29metres tomorrow.

"I must concentrate on myself. I've started to jump the big distances now," he said.

"I'm confident leading into Crystal Palace that I can jump further than I ever have before.

"Hopefully the Gods will be shining on me and we'll see a white flag. I've got the potential to go out to the Olympics and produce distances that can win medals.

"I haven't shown the potential to win – I need to jump 8.45m or 8.50m to achieve that.

"I've hit some effective jumps but I haven't put anything on the board yet that would say this guy is going to win the Olympics.

"It would be good to produce a distance at Crystal Palace that would indicate the sleeping giant is starting to wake up."