Left: Sherone Simpson of Jamaica sprints to win the women's 100 metres event in 10.89 seconds.   Right: Asafa Powell of Jamaica reacts after winning the 100 metres event at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on Saturday. Powell won in 9.89 seconds. - Reuters photos

STUTTGART, Germany (CMC)

Jamaican sprint ace Sherone Simpson produced a stirring finish and won the women's 100 metres to put the lid on the 4th IAAF World Athletics Final yesterday evening.

Tested by American Allyson Felix, who beat her in the 200 metres on Saturday, Simpson accelerated to a smashing finish to win in 10.89 seconds, the third-fastest time in the world this year.

The faster times in the world so far this year were both recorded by Simpson; her world-leading 10.82 in Jamaica in June, and 10.87 in Rome in July.

It seemed Felix might be set for the double with 30 metres left from lane four as she made her bid for victory, but Simpson had something special left in lane five and drove on to win, completing a Jamaican double in the 100 metres. Her teammate Asafa Powell won the men's 100 on Saturday.

Final day

American Torri Edwards finished well to snatch second behind Simpson in 11.06, just ahead of Felix (11.07). Bahamian Debbie Ferguson placed seventh in 11.26 seconds.

There were only three other top-three finishes for Caribbean athletes on the second and final day of the meet as Olympic silver medallist Danny McFarlane and World Champion Trecia Smith were out of the top frame in their events.

Smith registered no marks in the women's triple jump final as Russian Olympic champion Tatyana Lebedeva clinched victory at 14.82 metres, and her Jamaican colleague McFarlane had to settle for sixth in the men's 400 hurdles.

Periklis Iakovakis, of Greece, won in 47.92 seconds, defeating South African Louis van Zyl (48.08).

Jamaican Kemel Thompson was fifth in 48.61 and McFarlane behind him in 48.73.

Usain Bolt clocked 20.10 seconds for third in the men's 200 metres that produced a stunning win for rising American star Tyson Gay. After an explosive start, Gay sped to the finish in a personal best 19.68 seconds, making him joint third fastest ever over the distance with legendary Namibian Frankie Fredericks.

"This is incredible. This green track really is fast and this crowd was fantastic, to have so many people cheering for me. I've never experienced that ever in a race anywhere," Gay said after his win.

Gay's training partner Wallace Spearmon secured second in a 19.88 personal best, followed by Bolt, who was well ahead of European champion Francis Obikwelu (20.26) and his Jamaican teammate Christopher Williams (20.27).

American Sanya Richards displayed her dominance again in the women's 400 metres.

The Golden League series winner, who was born in Jamaica, ran a championship record 49.25 seconds in an untested victory.

"I am really pleased with the way my season has gone," said Richards after her win.

Jamaicans Novlene Williams (50.36) and Shericka Williams (50.44) took second and third respectively, and Bahamian Christine Amertil was fifth in 50.79.

Jamaica's Brigitte Foster-Hylton finished a disappointing fifth (12.66) in the women's 100 hurdles which was won by America's Michelle Perry in 12.52 seconds.