THESSALONIKI, Greece (CMC):

Track and field giant Usain Bolt advertised invincible form again and joined other Caribbean World Champions Ryan Brathwaite and Melaine Walker in winners' row as the IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final ended yesterday evening.

Jamaican Bolt sped to a meet record equalling 19.68 seconds to win the men's 200 metres, while his teammate Melaine Walker also posted a meet record in landing the women's 400-metre hurdles in 53.36 and rising Barbadian world star Brathwaite dominated the 110-metre hurdles in 13.16 seconds. All winners at the two-day meet picked up a purse of US$30,000.

Running in Lane 5 in the men's 200 metres, Olympic and World Champion Bolt covered the field quickly and came off the turn with a clear lead, moving further away down the homestretch to crush his rivals.

"I wanted to run faster but I was really tired after the long season. No more races for me, it is time to rest," he said.

American Wallace Spearmon was second in 20.21 seconds and Antiguan Pan-American Games champion Brendan Christian claimed third in 20.65.

TOP PERFORMANCE

American Carmelita Jeter delivered the top performance of the day when she recorded a stunning career-best and meet record 10.67 seconds to capture the women's 100 metres.

Accelerating powerfully over the last 40 metres, Jeter dismissed Jamaican Olympic and World Champion Shelly-Ann Fraser to become the third-fastest woman all-time over the distance.

"When I saw the clock, I was in shock and in tears," Jeter revealed.

Only world record holder Florence Griffith-Joyner (10.49) and Marion Jones (10.65) have gone faster.

In a field proliferated by Caribbean runners, Fraser took second in 10.89, a shade ahead of fellow Jamaican Kerron Stewart (10.90).

The third Jamaican in the line-up, Sherone Simpson was fifth in 11.20, while Bahamians Chandra Sturrup (11.17) and Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (11.24) placed fourth and sixth, respectively.

American World Champion Sanya Richards reaffirmed her superiority in the 400 metres, winning in 49.95 ahead of a pair of Jamaicans, Novlene Williams-Mills (50.34) and Shericka Williams (50.49).

In the women's triple jump, Jamaica's 2005 world champion Trecia Smith placed seventh at 13.89 metres as Cuban Mabel Gay landed the top spot at 14.62 metres.

Brathwaite got a decent start in the sprint hurdles and quickened in mid-race to take control, stopping the clock just 0.02 seconds outside his personal best and Barbados national record.

Creating history

The 21-year-old Brathwaite, who created history by becoming the first Barbadian to win a global senior track and field title, won ahead of American Dexter Faulk, who clocked 13.26 for second.

Jamaican Dwight Thomas recovered from a bad start to secure third in 13.29 seconds.

Walker, like Bolt a reigning world and Olympic champion, was unchallenged in her one-lap hurdles win, coming home ahead of her Jamaican teammate Kaliese Spencer (53.99), with the improving Trinidadian Josanne Lucas getting third in 54.31 seconds.

"I had a pretty good race. I felt very well during the warm up. I didn't struggle at the finish," said Walker.