BERLIN, Germany (CMC):

Chris Brown, Daniel Bailey and Kerron Stewart captured sprint victories for the Caribbean at the DKB-ISTAF opening IAAF Golden League meeting at the Olympic Stadium yesterday.

The Antiguan Bailey and Jamaica's Stewart, two of the standout Caribbean sprinters this season, won the men's and women's 100 metres comfortably, while Brown fought hard to win his first outdoor 400m this year.

Stewart was just as impressive in the women's race - recovering from a stumble at the start to win in 11.00 seconds even.

"I can't complain (about anything). A win is a win," the Olympic silver medallist said about the overall performance of her race.

"I finished the race healthy with a win, so I just have to give God thanks for that. I didn't expect to run that fast, so I will take the time too," she added.

No of easing down

Despite beating the field by a huge margin, Stewart said she had no intentions of easing down, especially since her start was not the best.

"I stumbled after my first two steps, so I wasn't thinking about easing up. I was just thinking about making up the grounds that I lost at the start of the race," she added.

American Stephanie Durst clocked 11.15 to lead the pack of trailers, including Jamaican Sheri-Ann Brooks running strongly in the last 30 metres for third in 11.18.

Chandra Sturrup (11.18) out-leaned her Bahamian countrywoman Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (11.19) for fourth, while the in-form US Virgin Islands' record-holder LaVerne Jones-Ferrette, who got out superbly, faded to sixth in 11.23.

Taking the track at a time when the conditions became much cooler than it was at the start of meeting, Bailey shook off a false start to clock an impressive 10.03 seconds to win his first major international race.

"I was coming off the flu (so) this feels great, it really feels great," an excited Bailey, who dominated the race in last 40 metres, said of his victory.

"I got a great start and then in the last 40m was good. First golden league, I am happy," he added.

The Antiguan record holder, a training partner of world record holder Usain Bolt, won easily ahead of Great Britain's Simeon Williamson (10.13) and Trinidad's Marc Burns (10.15).

The third Caribbean win in the Berlin Olympic stadium came from Brown, who initially got the ball rolling on the track with a stirring 45.61-second battle with Congo's Gary Kikaya (45.68).

"The win was good and the feel of the competitiveness was very great," Brown said.

"I just want to thank the Lord for this victory and allow me to go and come away healthy," he added.

Another Bahamian Michael Mathieu closed well to take third place in 45.92, with countryman Andretti Bain finishing seventh in 46.82.

World-leading time

Sanya Richards, of the USA, ran a world-leading 49.57 to outclass the field to win the women's race. Bobby-Gaye Wilkins of Jamaica was fifth with 52.23.

The Caribbean sealed other top three places, courtesy of Jamaicans Delloreen Ennis-London, second in the women's 100m hurdles in 12.98 seconds and Lacena Golding-Clarke, 13.00 for third.

American Olympic finalist Damu Cherry dominated the field with a 12.76 run.

Elsewhere, Bahamian Shamar Sands ran 13.56 for fourth in the men's 110m hurdles with Jamaica's Commonwealth Games champion Maurice Wignall (13.62) finishing fifth. American athletes, Dexter Faulk (13.18), Ryan Wilson (13.21) and David Payne (13.22) swept the top places.