CHRISTIAN Malcolm's coach Jock Anderson admits competition is fierce for the three 200m places in the British team for this summer's World Athletics Championships.

Malcolm ran his personal best 20.08 secs at the last World Champion-ships in Edmonton two years ago, but Anderson knows Malcolm will have to repeat his performance at Gateshead's Norwich Union Super League last Sunday to be sure of taking one of the three spots in the trials.

Malcolm beat his British rivals in the 200m final as he left 100m winner Dwain Chambers as well as Marlon Devonish, Darren Campbell and Julian Golding trailing in his wake with a strong finish as he won in 20.73 secs from Chambers.

The AAA Champion-ships at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium from July 25-27 will double up as the trials next month and Malcolm will need to repeat his Gateshead form having endured a miserable 2002.

Having seen the 24-year-old put in a blistering winter of warm-weather training in Australia, Anderson knows his man is in form and needs just a bit of luck.

He said: "Christian's doing well, it's all coming together, all we need is a bit of luck at the trials.

"He did well in Gates-head, but he didn't run the bend as well as I would have liked.

"I just hope he makes the team, there isn't a lot between any of the top sprinters, there's that many good ones about."

The problem is Chambers, Devonish and Campbell are close to top form and while Malcolm has had the better of them already, it will come down to who can sustain their speed over the three qualifying rounds.

Having run for Britain in the 100m and 200m in the last World Championships, Malcolm looks set to try to double up again and shows he has put the leg injuries of last season behind him.

Anderson said: "I think it's going to be easier for Christian to get into the 100s rather than the 200s, he'll go for both and try and get in the British squad either way.

"He never mentions the foot injury, so it must be better. The main thing is he's got his confidence back."