A dominating performance by Kerron Stewart highlighted the weekend's Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championships in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

THE SEC Championships are always synonymous with solid sprinting, and it was Stewart, the 23-year-old Jamaican who attends Auburn University, who took centre stage this year. She defended her 100m title with a 11.10 (w: -0.1) dash, well ahead of LSU's Sherry Fletcher (11.26) before doubling back to win the half-lap as well in 22.52, a new career best.

Her 100m performance equalled her fastest this year, and not only places her firmly in the favourite's position for next month's NCAA Championships, but augurs well for a possible slot on the Jamaican team for August's World Championships in Osaka. The double sprint champion at the NCAA indoors in March, Stewart was the NCAA runner-up outdoors in both dashes last year but by the narrowest of margins --just .02 in the 100 and .03 in the 200.

The newest name to spring forth from the SEC short dash ranks was Trindon Holliday, a sophomore at Louisiana State. With a modest 10.31 best to his credit prior to the weekend, the 21-year-old quickly rendered that mark obsolete with his 10.14 in the opening round on Saturday (12) before blasting to a 10.08 (w: +0.2) victory on Sunday (13) to crack into the world's early-season top-5.

Natasha Hastings, the 2003 World Youth and 2004 World Junior 400m champion, took her specialty with ease in 50.84. She also finished fourth in the 200 (22.92) before capping a busy Sunday by anchoring South Carolina's victorious 4 x 400m Relay quartet.

Two years ago, Tianna Madison sprung to the Long Jump spotlight after her victory at the SEC, just a few months before taking her surprise World title in Helsinki. This year, it was Ole Miss sophomore Brittney Reese who sprung to the fore with a 6.70 PB and victory on Saturday (12).

Elsewhere, world leader Donald Thomas (2.34 on 21 April) had an easy time in the High Jump, winning with a 2.29 clearance. But the Bahamian could have some stiff competition at next month's NCAAs. At the Big-12 Championships in Lincoln, Nebraska, 20-year-old Scott Sellers upped his personal best to 2.33 to best the 2004 NCAA champion, Andra Manson, who leaped 2.30.

A familiar name also produced some solid sprinting. University of Florida freshman Calvin Smith Jr., son of former 100m World record holder and tw-time World 200m champion Calvin Smith, won the 400 in a PB 45.74, and finished fourth in the 200 (20.91).