Jamaican athletes blazed the track in Monaco on Tuesday at the Herculis 2008 Super Grand Prix meet and signalled their intention to record the most impressive Olympic medal haul the country has ever amassed.

There was one world record which highlighted the meet, but the Jamaican performances came in a very close second.

Jamaicans made their way to the top of the podium on five different occasions led by former 100m world-record holder, Asafa Powell.  Powell, who was winning his third 100m race within a week, scorched the track with a season's-best time of 9.82 seconds.  His previous best time of 9.88 seconds was set in Stockholm last week where he beat Usain Bolt, the world-record holder.  Second in the race was Davis Patton of the United States (9.98) and fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter (10.02.

"I was very impressed with my race," the 25-year-old Jamaican said. "It was a nil wind reading so if I had a plus-one I would have run even faster."

"I feel great, very fresh. I've got a world record in my legs. I am very confident. My goal is to be consistent."

Meanwhile, on the women’s side, there was a quinella for the Jamaican ladies as Kerron Stewart and Sherone Simpson beat their American challengers to finish first and second respectively.  Stewart was timed in 10.94 to Simpson's 10.95.  Finishing third was American Torri Edwards in 11.02 seconds.  Simpson's performance has probably ended the speculation as to whether or not Veronica Campbell-Brown, who is in superb form, would have been included by the Jamaica Olympic Association in the trio of ladies to represent the island at the Olympics.

Danny McFarlane put in another workman-like performance as he won the men's 400m hurdles in 48.39 ahead of Polish athlete Marek Plawgo, 48.69. Reuben McCoy of the United States was third in 48.82.

Melanie Walker matched McFarlane in the women's event and, in the process, ran a personal best and world-leading time.  Her winning time of 53.48 seconds shaved more than half-a-second off her pervious best of 54.14.  She was followed closely by Americans Tiffany Ross-Williams, 53.54 and Sheena Tosta, 53.58.  

Jamaica's fifth victory came as Brigitte Foster-Hylton ran 12.49 seconds to beat Australian Sally McLellan who ended in 12.53 seconds. Defending Olympic champion, Joanna Hayes of the United States, was third in 12.67.

Other notable performances on the night were Ricardo Chambers, who finished second in the 400m with a time of 44.90 and shot-putter, Dorian Scott, who heave of 66-1, saw him placing fifth.

The lone world record came from Russia’s Yelena Isinbaeva, who broke the pole vault world record with a leap of 16 feet, 6 1/2 inches.  She set her new mark on her final attempt at that height.  Her previous world record was set on July 11 in Rome.