World 100m record holder Asafa Powell, flanked by officials, salutes the crowd after winning last night's final in 10.04 seconds. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor

CHEERED ON by a packed grandstand at the National Stadium last night, world record holder Asafa Powell and Veronica Campbell won the men's and women's 100 metres titles to bring the curtain down on day two of the Puma/Supreme Ventures National Senior and Junior Championships.

Powell, who appeared to be hit by a slight injury in the latter half of the race, eventually eased to victory in 10.04 seconds, beating Clement Campbell 10.10. Nesta Carter, 10.11, was third.

Campbell and Kerron Stewart had a terrific duel in the women's event with the 2004 Athens Olympics 200m champion edging away in the last 10 metres to score decisively in a season best and world-leading 10.89.

Stewart, a rising sprint star, secured an individual spot in the 100m at the World Championships for the first time, equalling her personal best 11.03. Sheri-Ann Brooks was third in 11.05.

Michael Frater who won silver in the 100m at the 2003 World Championships and Aleen Bailey, a relay gold medallist in Athens, had earlier suffered shock eliminations in the semi-finals. Frater had the ninth fastest time and missed out by one-hundredth of a second to Dwight Thomas, 10.44 to 10.45. Both finished third in their semi-final heats.

Veteran Danny McFarlane and Melaine Walker took the 400m hurdles titles. McFarlane turned back young guns Isa Phillips and Markino Buckley to capture the men's event in 48.52. Phillips ran on well to get second on the line in 49.23 ahead of Buckley's 49.24.

Walker streaked away from Kaliese Spencer over the last hurdle to win in 54.98. Spencer was second in 55.62 and Nickiesha Wilson third in 55.72.

400 metre favourites

The favourites for the men's and women's 400 metres titles, Novlene Williams and Ricardo Chambers, eased into today's finals with impressive semi-final wins.

America-based Novlene Williams won the first of two women's semi-finals in 50.75 seconds from Shereefa Lloyd, 51.22, and Sonita Sutherland, 52.24, and Ronetta Smith, 52.53. Also reaching the final from the heat was Holmwood Technical High schoolgirl Anastasia Le-Roy, who was fifth in 52.78.

TODAY'S SCHEDULE

FIELD EVENTS

9:30 a.m.