IT TOOK a long while coming, but all the better. It makes it even more savoury.

All sprint finals, six gold medals in a tally of 11, with world and Olympic records to boot. Oh Jamaica!

The signals were placed on the wall in 2006 when Jamaica swept the sprints at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. The big shout then: the Americans were absent. Come Beijing: bring them on.

Swimming sensation Michael Phelps led off the party with a record eight gold medals in as many races.

Then came the Usain Bolt show.

Bolt grabbed the spotlight with three races, three world records and a personality as electrifying as his sprinting.

His chest-beating and dancing celebrations were frowned upon by the International Olympic Committee president, Jacque Rogge, but the phenomenon received worldly acclaim for his colourful personality, then donated US$50,000 to the Red Cross charity in China.

Bolt erased his own 100-mark of 9.72 to 9.69 and even more astonishingly, started celebrating more than 10 metres from the finish; then lowered the once-believed untouchable 200 clocking of 19.32, established by American Michael Johnson, to 19.30. He later teamed up with Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Asafa Powell, the one-time 100m world-record holder.

It was especially pleasing to see long-time Jamaica representatives Frater, and Powell through his many 100 exploits, land an Olympic gold, team or otherwise. No great Jamaican sprinter should be denied that honour again. It happened to Merlene Ottey.

Besides previously holding the world mark at 9.77 (which he clocked three times) and 9.74 seconds, Powell has done 12 legal sub-10 clockings in one season, a record. He has also gone under 10 seconds 41 times, second only to Maurice Greene's 52.

The women sprinters lived up to expectations and swept all medals in the 100m, then two of three in the 200. Shelly-Ann Fraser scored an amazing 100 triumph, with Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson sharing silver. The much-loved Veronica Campbell-Brown repeated as 200m champion, with Stewart third. They were separated by American Allyson Felix, who had looked a sure champ the previous season.

Olympic record

Like Campbell-Brown who dominated the sprints this season, Melaine Walker transferred her form into the 400m hurdles final and erased countrywoman Deon Hemmings' Olympic record with a composed run to win by a city block.

Shericka Williams upstaged American favourite, Jamaica-born Sanya Richards for 400m silver, then combined with Novlene Williams, Rosemarie Whyte and Shereefa Lloyd for the 4x400m bronze. Holmwood Technical teen Bobby-Gaye Wilkins earned a medal, too, after showing her mettle against big-time competition in the heats.

The women's 4x100 appeared a cinch, but after a magnificent start by Fraser, a botched second changeover between Simpson and Stewart ended a certain gold medal triumph that left Campbell-Brown standing.

Damage has already been done, but the running order should have been altered with Simpson handing over to Campbell-Brown, and Stewart running anchor, for two reasons. Campbell-Brown's the fastest curve runner in women's sprinting and both her and Simpson, as the most experienced big-meet runners, should have been given the responsibility of handling the baton twice.

Few disappointments

It was one of few disappoint-ments. A major one included Powell's failure to medal in the 100 final, but he still has another shot.

There's hope that those who barely missed out - quarter hurdler Danny McFarlane, sprint hurdlers Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Delloreen Ennis-London, along with Chelsea Hammond, will be blessed with better luck next time, though Foster-Hylton is contemplating retirement.

Yet, Jamaica's success has made it the envy of the world, with many casting aspersions of drug-suspicion. In defence, this small country, with strong athletics programmes and tradition, notes that its athletes are heavily drug-tested and the playing field is levelling off with more effective testing procedures.

Still, even more important, all is not well in the family. A stand-off involving members of the MVP Track Club and some unclear signals sent through proclamations by its coach, Stephen Francis, threatened to disrupt the camp.

Clearly, there needs to be a meeting of minds as the country strides into the future confidently with talent and mouths watering to savour World Championship and Olympic delight.