Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser (right), Kerron Stewart (centre) and Aleen Bailey celebrate after the women's 100 metres final at the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany, on Monday. Fraser took gold ahead of Stewart, while Bailey placed eighth. Another Jamaican, Veronica Campbell-Brown, finished fourth. - Photo by Oliver Wright

BERLIN, Germany:

POWERFUL INDIVIDUAL performances pushed four Jamaican women among the world's top eight sprinters at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics (WCA) here.

However, they recognise it will take a unified effort this weekend to win the gold medal in the 4x100 metres relay that eluded the country at last year's Olympics Games.

Boasting Shelly-Ann Fraser's winning 10.73 seconds and Kerron Stewart's 10.75 for second in yesterday's 100 metres final, plus fourth for Veronica Campbell-Brown (10.95) and eighth-place Aleen Bailey (11.16), Jamaica have emerged clear-cut favourites to win the sprint relay. And the women are eager to exorcise the ghosts of last year's disqualification in Beijing, China.

Nothing new

"I think we have a chance again to prove to the world that we can get this right because baton passing is something that we grow up doing," said Stewart who, along with Sherone Simpson, was involved in a botched second changeover in Beijing. "This is nothing new to us.

"It's just that we have to go out there and trust each other. Just know that three other girls I'm running with, I'm trusting them, for a couple seconds, with something very important to me. We all have to have the same mindset."

Stewart is convinced the team will be at that point when it matters. Asked if that trust has been fostered, she didn't hesitate: "Definitely, definitely.

Unity of our nation

"I mean, I'm not gonna say that we're all best friends and we call each other on the phone every night, but when it comes on to performing, we have to drop everything aside and compete for the unity of our nation."

The first round of the event is Saturday, the same day as the final. Jamaica's arch-rivals the United States and The Bahamas both featured two finalists in yesterday's short sprint. Neither is willing to relinquish any early advantage to Jamaica.

"I'm not conceding anything," said defiant American Lauryn Williams after finishing fifth yesterday. "I think that America has a strong team. We have ... good chemistry and we're excited about what's gonna happen."

This month a US team comprising Williams, Allyson Felix, Muna Lee and Carmelita Jeter, Monday's bronze medallist, clocked a world-leading 41.58 seconds in Germany.

Jamaica, whose national record of 41.73 in the 4x100 was set at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece, will be searching for a similar formula.

However, there has been no public word yet about the composition of Jamaica's team, including the running order. But Bailey who, along with Campbell-Brown, was part of the country's 4x100 team which won gold in Athens may not be the new wrinkle from the Beijing team. Stewart said she is not sure she will be retained on the third leg, but is willing to take on any assignment.

Excited aabout race

"I dunno," she said laughing. "I don't think they'd want to put me on third no more. You give me the baton and I will run. It doesn't matter what leg. I can do any leg."

Whatever the team looks like, Bailey is excited about Jamaica's chances at these championships and vowed there will be no repeat of last year's Olympics mix-up.

"Boy, relay look nice!" she said after the 100 metres final. "Once I'm involved, no more Beijing."

The experienced Bahamas, with Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie, who was fifth in the 100 and seventh-place finisher Chandra Sturrup believe Jamaica must be favourites to win if they "can get the stick around".

However, she and Sturrup were both part of the team which won gold in the event at the 2000 Olympics and the 1999 WCA. With less pressure to win, The Bahamas is a dangerous crew.

"It's always fun for us running the relays," said Ferguson-McKenzie, "and we definitely have a good chance."

However, the world's fastest woman believes Jamaica will have a better opportunity to do something special. If all goes well, the country could have a chance at former East Germany's world record of 41.37 set in 1985. The speed is certainly in place.

"We're excited," said Fraser. "USA did 41.5, I think, and I think we're two 10.7s at least and I think Veronica will be in pretty good shape. And I think once we set it in order, then I think we should have a good championship (in the event)."

Campbell-Brown