Leighton Levy, Star Writer

Jamaica's Kerron Stewart fought off illness and a determined field to eke out a win in the 100 metres at the ISATF World Challenge meeting in Berlin yesterday.

She was the only Jamaican winner at the meet, where Caribbean athletes took the short sprints and where spectators witnessed a spectacular world record performance.

The 30-year-old Stewart deserved every penny of her US$5,000 ($562,750.02) pay cheque as she had to pull out all the stops to repel fast-finishing American duo of Joanna Atkins 11.26s and Jessica Young 11.32s. Stewart's Racers teammate Schillonie Calvert was fourth in 11.33s.

"I have been feeling sick since Zurich so I am surprised I managed to win here," Stewart said after her race. "I was only in my room before the competition and I have not had proper training. I feel some pain in my neck. I hope I will get through this because I really like the stadium and this competition, but I did not have much chance to enjoy it today."

comfortably ahead

There were no Jamaicans in the men's equivalent but Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson ensured a Caribbean sweep of the sprint as he held off the USA's Dentarius Locke to win in 10.15s. Locke (10.16) was comfortably ahead of Thompson's countryman Keston Bledman who was timed in 10.23s. Thompson was grateful for the win.

"The time is not so fast but the victory counts," he said. "It would be great to run sub-10, but I feel I need some more races before the season is over. I hope it will be faster in Zagreb or in Brussels."

O'Dayne Richards, the other Jamaican competing in Berlin, continued to demonstrate that he can mix it up with the world's best. Richards, who produced a personal best 21.61m to win gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July, finished fourth in the shot put with a best throw of 20.72m, just five centimetres off a medal spot claimed by New Zealand's Tom Walsh (20.77m). Germany's David Storl won with a best throw of 21.41m, while the USA's Ryan Whiting (21.06m) was second.

world record holder

The most impressive throwing of the meet came from Poland's Anita Wlodarczyk, who broke the world record in the hammer. The 2009 World champion achieved the mark of 79.58m on her second throw and was a class above the field that included the German pair of Betty Heidler 75.20m, the former world record holder, and Kathrin Klaas 73.42, who were second and third, respectively. Wlodarczyk was so dominant she could have won the competition with her first throw of 75.29m. The winner had one more throw above 79m and two of them way better than 78m."It is a great feeling to finally improve the world record," she said. "I was aiming 80 metres and I know I am able to throw it. I felt very confident and my shape is very good this year. This stadium brings me luck. Back in 2009, I also managed the world record and now, it seems like my destiny."