Also producing notable wins at the meet were Jamaicans Melaine Walker and Richard Phillips.

The Martina, Dix battle led to injury

Competing for the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) Martina battled with American and Florida State's sprinter Walter Dix until the closing metres when Dix clutched on to his right hamstring and slowed down in pain.

Martina, who was ranked 21st in the world in the 100 last season, went on to take the race over Dix, who crossed at 10.17 and Jamaal Charles at 10.18. Jamaican former world junior 4x100 relay silver medallist Yhann Plummer finished fifth in the race in 10.35. His time however, was the seventh fastest on the day.

"The race was good," Martina, the 2002 South American Junior Championships 100m champion said after the race. "Today is a nice day, a really nice day.

"I came in second in this event in 2004 and wasn't able to come last year, so winning feels great. I think I will keep coming to this meet, even after I graduate. It is a nice meet.

Fast time for Baptiste in the dash In the women's race

Trinidad and Tobago's Kelly Ann Baptiste and 2005 NCAA champion Marshevet Hooker battled all the way to line before the latter nipped the Trinidadian for first in a world best 11.13 to Baptiste's 11.14.

"Kelly Ann Baptiste is a heck of an athlete," Hooker said after her narrow 0.01 margin victory.

"I knew going up against her I would have to do my best."

Tahesia Harrigan from the British Virgin Islands was fourth in 11.38.

Walker runs second fastest time this year

Another impressive performance came from Jamaican 23-year-old hurdler Walker, who produced a career-best 54.87seconds to win the women's 400-metre hurdles.

Walker, competing in her finals season for the University of Texas, produced a strong finish to pass Dominique Darden at the top of the home straight and pull away to win convincingly. Darden took second in 55.27.

Walker's time is the second fastest this year behind Australian Jana Pittman's Commonwealth Games title run of 53.82 and the Jamaican was happy with the victory, especially after her battle with the strong wind.

"I didn't really have a strategy today because the wind is pretty strong," she said. "I felt the wind on the first hurdle and used it when I could."

"I felt the girl from Miami [Dominique Darden] right behind me, but I knew I had this race. I just wanted to run the best race that I could."

Another Jamaican Nickiesha Wilson closed strongly to take third in PB 56.93, while Trinidadian Ramona Modeste crossed the line sixth at 57.92.

Close win for Phillips

Phillips of Jamaica took a close victory over Linnie Yarbrough in the men's 110m high hurdles. Phillips crossed the line first in 13.71, just ahead of Yarbrough, at 13.73.

"This is one of the best places to win in the world... the weather is great and the crowd is always in it," the George Mason University senior said. "There is the best competition here."

French star and world champion Ladji Doucoure won the Invitational division in 13.49sec.