Sherone Simpson

SYDNEY, Australia (CMC):

Jamaican Olympic sprinter, Sherone Simpson, powered her way to a convincing win in the women's 200 metres final at the Sydney Grand Prix Saturday.

The 23-year old clocked 23.44 seconds to reach to easily dismiss Fiji's Makelesi Batimala (23.84) and Australia's Lauren Hewitt (24.12).

Plagued by injuries last season, the win will be a boost to Simpson as she continues her preparation in an Olympic season.

"I'm much stronger mentally after coming through injuries last year," Simpson said. "I definitely don't want to go through that again."

Simpson's compatriot Nadia Cunningham finished sixth in the event in a time of 24.26 seconds.

Similar times

In the men's 100 metres, Trinidadian Darrel Brown was edged out by hometown hero Matt Shirvington who won the event in 10.43 seconds. Brown also clocked a similar time but had to settle for second, while Aaron Rouge-Serret was third in 10.46 seconds.

Barbados' national sprint champion Andrew Hinds was fifth in 10.54 seconds while Winston Smith was eighth in 10.97 seconds.

Jamaican Michael Frater missed out on a podium finish as Australia's Daniel Batman upset the World and Olympic champion in the 200 metres.

Frater finished in 21.11 seconds while Batman's 20.81 seconds was good enough to top American Jeremy Wariner's 20.93 seconds.

In the women's 400 metres hurdles, Jamaica's Melaine Walker clocked 56.63 seconds to claim second in the event won by China's Xiaoxiao Huang in 55.98 seconds.