Athletics watchers will be looking to Usain Bolt and Mo Farah to repeat their track exploits at last year’s Olympics and give the sport some much needed positive spin at the world championships when they get underway in Moscow tomorrow.

Also, Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare is another hopeful after a very successful performance in the IAAF Diamond League series.

“I feel I am hitting the target and hope to keep the momentum up in Moscow. I am hopeful of winning something but I need to work extra hard and stay calm”, Okagbare said on arrival in Moscow for the worlds.

She faces a fierce battle for the 100m gold from Jamaica’s Frayser-Pryce, who over time, has proved that she is the girl for the big stage.

Despite the blight of positive dope tests returned by top stars, Bolt, who turns 27 on August 21, says nobody should doubt him in terms of being clean.

“How long have you been following Usain Bolt?,” he said in late July.

“2008? If you’ve been following me since 2002 you know I’ve been doing phenomenal things since I was 15. I’ve broken every record there is to break.

“Right now I’m living out my dream. I’ve shown throughout the years I’ve always been great.”

The main concern for the amiable Jamaican heading into the championships is getting his start out of the blocks right – a bugbear that has dogged him throughout his career.

“I need to work with my coach and figure out how to be more explosive out of the blocks and not so slow,” said Bolt.

“But my coach tells me I am not a good starter anyway and just to focus on my running. I know what mistakes I made in the last world championships and executed the start very well in the Olympics.

“I am not worried because my mind set is always different and better come major championships. Maybe I will be back to my fastest and best by Moscow.”

Farah, whose double Olympic gold in the 5000m and 10000m last year deservedly shared the headlines with Bolt, has been in sparkling form this season.

Farah, Bolt and Okagbare look to shine

Not only does he look odds on to repeat his double title win from last year but he also smashed British great Steve Cram’s 28-year-old British 1500m record in Monaco in a rare appearance in this event last month improving his previous best time over the distance by five seconds.

Somalia-born Farah (30) admits that despite his great form he is not a shoo-in for the 5000m and 10 000m double in Moscow.

“Of course, it is going to be very tough in the worlds,” he said.

“The competition will be fierce again, and I will need to be as good, if not better, than 12 months ago.”