BERLIN, Germany,  (CMC) – World champions Yohan Blake and Kirani James led four young Caribbean athletes that enhanced their growing reputations with notable victories yesterday at the International Stadium Festival meet. Jamaican Blake and Grenadian James comfortably won their pet events to continue their impressive form, along with the Trinidad & Tobago pair of Kelly-Ann Baptiste and Jehue Gordon at the IAAF World Challenge meet inside the Olympic Stadium.

Blake, the newly-minted World 100 metres champion, ran a personal best of 9.82 seconds for the second time in three days.

He also shattered the previous stadium of 9.86 secs held jointly by compatriot Asafa Powell (2006) and American sprint legend Maurice Greene (2000).

There were some very good guys in this field, so it was not easy to win,” said Blake. “It is a wonderful feeling to get the win.

“It pushed me to run faster, maybe in the next race. Life changed a bit after the World Championships. The fans are cheering loudly for me, and that is something new for me.”

Former World champion Kim Collins of St. Kitts & Nevis ran a season’s best time of 10.01 to finish runner-up ahead of T&T’s Richard Thompson (10.08).

James ended his season on a high note, taking the 400 in 45.33. It was his fourth straight victory since the first week in August, when he made his maiden professional appearance.

“I was a little bit tired because of the travelling this week,” he said. “My goal was just to run, and to put on a great show for the fans.

“I tried to control the race, and wanted to have a good finish. It worked. But the main thing was to put on a great show. I am done for this season. I have to go back to school (University of the Alabama in the United States).”

Nery Brenes of Costa Rica finished second in 45.62, and Rondell Bartholomew, another quarter-miler from Grenada, grabbed third in 45.82.

In the women’s 100, there was a sweep of the top positions by Caribbean athletes with Baptiste taking command at the mid-point, and running away from the field for a time of 11.15, followed by a string of Jamaicans.

Sherone Simpson was second (11.24), Kerron Stewart was (11.28), and Aleen Bailey, sister of dancehall reggae star Capleton, was fourth in 11.37.

“I do not look at this race like that – my having beaten the Jamaican runners,” said Baptiste. “It is all about running my own race.

“The time – I am not really happy about it. I hoped to run faster. But it was good that I was able to push forward, and I hope to run even faster in my next race.

She added: “I was mostly mentally tired, not so much physically. When I am in Europe, I stay in Amsterdam, but this is not my own decision, it is rather my coach who chose Amsterdam.

“This is the third time I have come to Berlin, and I really like to be here. I do not know yet how I will spend my break, I guess I will spend time with my dog, Capone, and with my family.”

Promising hurdler Jehue Gordon made up – a little bit – for his disappointing appearance at the World Championships with a sound victory in the 400 hurdles.

In the lead after the first 100 metres, he stretched his lead over the rest of the distance, crossing the line in a season’s best time of 48.66.

“It was a really good race for me,” he said. “I had to stop at one hurdle, but I felt strong, and could get the rhythm back.

“I had a bet (with World bronze medallist and this year’s fastest L.J. van Zyl of South Africa), and I did a season’s best, so everything is fine,” he said.

“I had a good chance to win, and I made it. But there is always room for improvement. Maybe I can run a little bit faster next Friday in Brussels at the Diamond League.”

Trevor Barry of the Bahamas was the only other Caribbean athlete to make it to the podium, clearing 2.30 metres to finish runner-up to American Jesse Williams in the men’s high jump.

Former World champion Donald Thomas, a compatriot of Barry’s, missed out on a podium finish, when he was one of three jumpers to clear 2.26. He suffered on the count back, edged into fourth place by Raul Spank of Germany.