PORT-OF-SPAIN (CMC): Sensational Grenadian Kirani James uncorked another championship triumph yesterday to dominate his rivals for gold over 400 metres at the Pan Am Juniors.

Just weeks after becoming IAAF World Youth Champion, the 16-year-old James outgunned the field on the opening day of the Pan American Junior Track and Field Championship to win the one-lap event in 45.43 seconds.

Jamaican Shermaine Williams won the women's 100-metre hurdles to give CARICOM countries two gold medals as the three-day meet for the hemisphere's best Under-20 age-group athletes began at Hasely Crawford Stadium.

James, who won the 200-400 double at the IAAF World Youth meet in Italy earlier this month, defeated American Tavaris Tate (45.50) in a strong finish for the gold.

The victory gave James a fourth gold medal in nine months at a major international event, following gold at the Commonwealth Youth Games in India last November and his double-title success at World Youth in Italy.

Williams displayed Jamaica's trademark strength in sprint hurdling and won her event in a wind-assisted 13.22 seconds over her teammate Rosemarie Carty (13.34) with a following wind of 2.2 metres per second.

American Raven Clay (13.44) was third and Barbadian Kenrisha Brathwaite was fifth in 14.13.

The 100-metre sprints were also dominated by Americans as Marcus Rowland clocked a championship record and world junior-leading 10.03 seconds, scoring over his teammate D'Angelo Cherry (10.17).

Jamaican Dexter Lee was fourth in 10.33.

The women's 100 went to Chalonda Goodman in a championship record 11.22 over Amber Purvis (11.38) in an American one-two finish.

Jamaican Jura Levy (11.51) was third and Kittitian Marecia Pemberton (11.61) was fifth.

Local Trinidad and Tobago entries gave some strong appearances in the field events through Quincy Wilson and Keshon Walcott.

American Mason Finley won the men's discus at a championship record 65.34 metres ahead of Wilson (57.90m) with Jamaican Travis Smikle (57.18) third.

Jamaica picked up another bronze medal through Carifta champion Jodi-Ann Muir (53.93) in the women's 400 metres that Colombia's Jenifer Padilla (53.60) won ahead of Mexico's Alejandro Cherizola (53.81).