IAAF article on Veronica Campbell Brown

[Sickko]

Osaka near miss motivates Campbell Brown for Olympic double

Monday 10 December 2007
Montego Bay, Jamaica - After an extremely successful 2007 track season during which she won a handful of medals at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan, and then celebrated a glamour wedding to long time beau Omar Brown, Veronica Campbell Brown has her eyes set on more success in 2008.
The only flat sprinter to win an individual gold medal at all three levels of the IAAF World Championships - senior, junior and youth - Campbell Brown is at the top of her career but is not content yet to start counting her medals and relaxing.
A close finish in the women's 100m final where Veronica Campbell takes gold ahead of Lauryn Williams
(Getty Images) Campbell Brown started preparing for the 2008 season in early November, right after her wedding in Montego Bay, with what she described as “long runs” and says she was looking forward to stepping up the pace soon.
“My plans for next season include winning my races leading up to Beijing (Olympic Games). Additionally, I want to run my personal best in both the 100m and 200m. However, my ultimate goal is to win the double in Beijing,” she pointed out.
As for the highlights of last season, Campbell Brown said, “I had an excellent season! I am totally satisfied and thankful to God that I concluded the season healthy. The highlights for me included claiming victory in the 100m in Osaka, running somewhat close to my personal best at the (Jamaican) National Trials in the 100m (10.89), and running my second fastest 100m (10.90) in my final race of the season in Shanghai.”
Cool, calm and collected - Veronica Campbell in Osaka
(Getty Images) While she did not achieve her goals of winning the sprint double in Osaka, she said, “I did my best but came up short of the victory in the 200m. If I say I was not disappointed, I would be lying. However, my defeat will definitely lift my motivational level as I prepare for Beijing.”
Campbell Brown won the short sprint with a brilliant late burst to edge the Americans Lauren Williams and Carmelita Jeter on the line as the top two athletes were credited with the same time of 11.01 seconds.
The 2004 Olympic 200m gold medalist in Athens, Greece was however outpaced by another American Allyson Felix in the half lap event in Osaka, despite running her season best 22.34 seconds.
Veronica Campbell celebrates winning gold in the women's 100m final in Osaka
(Getty Images) The fact that Campbell Brown was in Osaka in the first place was a triumph of sorts after she had suffered a major quadriceps injury that had cut short her season in 2006.
She had expressed some niggling "concerns and consciousness of the injury" at the start of this season and for the first few races into it but says until "you have run a few (races) it is somewhat difficult to be 100% comfortable and confident.”

Campbell Brown, who along with her husband Omar - the 2006 Commonwealth Games 200m champion - were among five athletes from Trelawny honoured by the parish in November, says she understands the importance of patience and longevity in the sport as she pursues the legacy left by her mentor and idol, the great Merlene Ottey.
Campbell Brown who many track experts expect to challenge the Jamaican national records soon, says while they are goals for her to aim at, she doesn’t want to set any timetable saying only, “I really don’t know how soon I can break any of the national records, but I am confident that with God’s help I will do so before the end of my career.”
Near season's best victory for Veronica Campbell in Shanghai
(Getty Images) Ottey set the present marks at 10.74 and 21.64, while Campbell Brown's personal bests in the sprints are 10.85 and 22.05.
“My role model, Ms Ottey has set the bar high, which is a good thing. I realise the level of patience, hard work, dedication and excellent execution that will be required to break these records. Both the 100m and 200m are of equal importance to me, my intention is to break them both.”
Campbell Brown says she is enjoying married life, “I am enjoying my marriage so far. It is a new chapter in my life and I look forward to turning each page. My honeymoon was great, Omar and I spent it at a beach resort in Jamaica.”
Paul Reid for the IAAF

• Printable version
• E-mail this to a friend

[T.K.]

MdmeX......What if I was to serenade Veronica with my booming baritone voice? Do you think she'd leave her husband for me? Or am I salt? I want to marry her. Do you think she'd be into the whole Mormon thing? Can a wife take more than one husband in that religion? Mek mi look up de rules dem. - T.K.

[Assasin]

A dat wid unnu, won't step up to the plate at the right time. Why you never try before she married? ah bwoy a tell you. Now the horse gone out of the gate, it too late bass.

[T.K.]

A dat wid unnu, won't step up to the plate at the right time. Why you never try before she married? ah bwoy a tell you. Now the horse gone out of the gate, it too late bass.

Bowy Assassin mi did try believe me! But MdmeX kept telling me that I had no chance. You know I didn't even get my feet into the blocks to rhatid. I would have loved to have run that 100 at least one time. Veronica is a Goddess. We should build a statue in her honor. - T.K.

[MdmeX]

Just built har the statue and you can look at it everyday! For dat's the closest you'll get

[T.K.]

Just built har the statue and you can look at it everyday! For dat's the closest you'll get

Ah bwoy...yuseeit Assassin? MdmeX is a cold hearted somebody. - T.K.

[Gamma]

sound like yuh on body guard duty!!!!

[T.K.]

sound like yuh on body guard duty!!!!

Aaaaannnnndddddd IIIIiiiiiiiiiiiiEiiiiiiiii.......will......always. .....love......UUUUUUUUUu....Well you did say body guard. - T.K.

[Gamma]

for clarity ... i hope is not a jb yuh pulling wid yuh song dedication.....

[T.K.]

for clarity ... i hope is not a jb yuh pulling wid yuh song dedication.....

Haha......real funny man.

For clarity's sake.....NO WAY JOSE! - T.K.