Reacting well to win a one-sided race

After failing in her bid to win a 200m lane and win a possible sprint double at the meeting, Simpson reacted quickly to a fast gun and dominated the women's field to win the 100m title.

The Jamaican, who started as the firm favourite, with multi-global gold medallist and former champion Marion Jones of USA deciding to end her season before the games, rocketed from the blocks and gave her challengers no chance at catching her, to cross the finishing line well clear of everyone in 10.97 seconds.

Finishing behind the Jamaican in one of the easiest victory ever in World Cup competition was American ex-world champion, Torri Edwards (11.19) and African champion Vida Anim, third in 11.21. Belgium's European champion Kim Gevaert clocked 11.24 for fourth.

Another sizzling run on anchor

Simpson snatched her second gold medal with another sparkling run on anchor for the Americas women's 4x100 relay team. Collecting the baton behind the Russians, the Jamaican female ace sprinter hit top gear at the half-mark to charge home in a world-leading time of 42.26.

Joining Simpson on the title defence quartet were Jamaican Olympian Aleen Bailey, Bahamian veteran Debbie Ferguson and Cydonie Mothersill from the Cayman Islands. The Russians picked up second in 42.36, while the Africans were surprisingly third.

In the men's 100m race, American Tyson Gay made use of the absence of world record holder Asafa Powell, who backed out a few days before the competition, by racing to the finishing line to win in a fast 9.88secs.

Olympic silver medallist and European sprint double champion Francis Obikwelu took second in 10.09secs, while Trinidad and Tobago's top-ranked sprinter Marc Burns reacted first to a quick gun start but ran home third in 10.14secs. Uchenna Emedolu (AFR-NGR) also ran the same time for fourth.

Gay was also an integral part of the US team that snatched gold in the men's 4x100 relay. Gay ran a super curve to help the Americans record the fastest time (37.59) since 1999.

The Americas team, which featured Powell on anchor, failed to get the stick around to powerman, who was left disappointed in the staggers.

Tired but still strong, Calatayud finds homestretch strength

For the second weekend in a row Cuban World Championships gold medal winner, Zulia Calatayud, had to dig deep to win another women's 800-metres title. Coming into the competition knowing that her main rival would be Kenya's African champion and world no.1 Janeth Jepkosgei, Calatayud ran smartly, before taking the lead in the homestretch and hold off the Commonwealth Games champion to win the race in 2:00.06.

Easy win for Foster-Hylton, Williams-Darling returns in style

There were more gold medals for Caribbean athletes competing for the Americas team on the final day of competition. Jamaican Brigitte Foster-Hylton and the women's 4x400 relay quartet both made sure of some more success for the region on day two.

Earlier in the morning, Foster-Hylton showed glimpse of her early season form with a super second half race that gave her the women's 100m hurdles crown in a time of 12.67. Swedish European champion Susanna Kallur and American champion Virginia Powell took second and third respectively in times of 12.77 and 12.90.

The second gold on the day came from the team of Shericka Williams, Christine Amertil, Tonique Williams-Darling and Novlene Williams in the final women's race at the championships.

After a quality start from Shericka, World and Olympic champion Williams-Darling surprisingly took the baton on the second leg and showed no signs of the injury she sustained in New York earlier in the year. The Bahamian queen ran a top-class second leg to put her team in the lead before countrywoman Amertil increased the gap and handed over to bronze medallist in the open 400m, Novlene, who took the team home in a world-leading time of 3:19.84.

The Americans finished second in 3:20.69, while Russia took home the bronze in 3:21.21.

Not the same luck, but silver nevertheless

The men too were on their way to making it a double for Americas, but Grenadian two-time reigning World Indoor champion Alleyne Francique was unable to hold off American Darold Williamson on anchor and surrendered the lead right at the line.

The Americans won the close race in 3:00.11, just ahead of Americas in 3:00.14. A gutsy performance from the African team saw them picking up third in 3:00.88.

Other notable performances came from Jamaican World Junior record holder Usain Bolt, who grabbed second in the 200m behind American Wallace Spearmon in 19.96, Cuban sensation Dayron Robles, 13.06 for third in the men's 110m hurdles, Yipsi Moreno, third in the women's Hammer Throw with a best of 73.99m. Another Cuban, Yumileidi Cumba picked up a bronze in the women's Shot Put Finals.