American sprinter Justin Gatlin expressed his ambition in Rabat on Friday to achieve a great performance in the 100m during the 6th edition of the Mohammed VI International Athletics Meeting, the 8th stage of the IAAF World Challenge circuit, scheduled for 9 June at the Prince Moulay Abdellah sports complex in Rabat. Speaking during a meeting with the press on Friday at the headquarters of the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA), the London Olympic 100m bronze medallist said he was "proud" to return to Morocco to participate for the second consecutive year in the Mohammed VI International Meeting, which is gaining notoriety with each edition. "In Morocco, I am more relaxed and the Mohammed VI International Meeting has a warm audience," he added, noting that the good weather conditions in Rabat help to run "faster". This meeting, which occupies a major place in the International Federation's calendar, is an important step in preparation for the Trials (US Championships) from 20 to 23 June 2013 in Iowa and the 14th World Championships in Moscow (10-18 August), stressed the 2004 and 2012 Olympic silver medallist (4x100m). Sunday's race will be highly contested due to the presence of high-level runners including Kim Collins (Saint Kitts and Nevis), the Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre and the Moroccan Aziz Ouhadi, recalled Gatlin, 31, world indoor champion (60m) in 2003 and 2012. Asked about his 100m victory (9.94s) on Thursday at the Rome meeting (Diamond League) ahead of the six-time Olympic champion, the Jamaican Usain Bolt, by one hundredth of a second, the American sprinter, 2004 Olympic champion, declared that this victory gives him more "confidence" in preparation for the 2013 World Championships. "I need to improve the middle of my race. Every race is important, Rome is an important step towards the World Championships." For his part, Aziz Ouhadi, who will compete in the 100m and 200m at the Mohammed VI International Meeting, indicated that his ambition is to rank in the top 3 of these two races, which will see the participation of high-calibre runners. "I must honour the national colours and the general public who, I hope, will be numerous to encourage me," said the holder of the meeting record (20.50) in the 200m in 2012. For his part, the national technical director at the FRMA, Ahmed Tanani, recalled that the national colours will be defended by about thirty athletes, noting that Abdelaâti Iguider, 2012 world indoor champion in the 1,500m and bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, will be absent after a back injury. The programme for this edition, which will see the participation of about 150 athletes, includes 15 events: 10 for men (100m, 200m, 800m, high jump, long jump, 400m, 1,500m, discus, 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m) and 5 for women (100m, 400m hurdles, 800m, 3,000m steeplechase, 1,500m).