National Championships Review ... the ladies stole the show

BRIGITTE RECLAIMS 100m HURDLES

Another outstanding result among the women came in the 100 metres hurdles as former national champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton regained her title in fine style. Foster, who had two poor runs at the Berlin Golden League and the Nike Prefontaine meet, where she finished last on both occasions, showed that something was definitely wrong back then. Despite a poor start, she ran on strongly from mid race to post a season best 12.50 seconds to defeat defending champion Delloreen Ennis-London, who was second with a good 12.57 seconds, while another veteran, Vonette Dixon, took third in 12.71 seconds.

Bolt was the star among the males as he took home the sprint double by winning the 100 and 200 metres. After his facile victory in the 100 metres in 9.85 seconds over Powell (9.97), he was on a Sunday afternoon stroll in the 200 metres where he jogged 19.97 seconds to take the event. Based on his two convincing victories, it will take a brave man to bet against him in Beijing for the sprint double.

After missing last year's World Championships, Michael Frater returned to the national line-up by finishing third in the 100m in 10.04 second for the other individual spot in this event. His teammate, Nesta Carter, who was expected to do well here, suffered a cramp before the event.

A finalist at the World Championships in the 200 metres last year, Marvin Anderson, who finished fourth in the 100 metres in 10.11 seconds, was second to Bolt in the 200 metres in a season best 20.17 seconds.

Veteran Christopher Williams showed that he still has something left in him, after making it to another major championships, by finishing third in the 200 metres in a season best 20.20 seconds. Williams, who was having a lean season leading up to the championships, after being consistent in the 20.7 seconds range, proved once again he is a big-stage performer.

Another veteran pulled off a major surprise in the 400 metres as Michael Blackwood upstaged former national champions Ricardo Chambers and Sanjay Ayre. With both Ayre and Chambers having a ding-dong battle at the front with less than 30 metres to go, Blackwood, the former national champion, came storming on the outside to clip both men in a close finish and win in 45.21 seconds. Chambers, who was second, and Ayre, who got third, both recorded the same time of 45.24 seconds.