Discipline | Place | Duration |
---|---|---|
Women's 100m | 70 | for 2 weeks |
Women's Overall Ranking | 803 | for 1 week |
Discipline | Performance | Wind | Venue | Date | Records | Results Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100 Metres | 10.76 | +1.1 | Mestský Stadion, Ostrava (CZE) | 31 MAY 2011 | 1253 | |
200 Metres | 21.74 | +0.6 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 21 AUG 2008 | 1265 | |
400 Metres | 52.25 | Orlando, FL (USA) | 26 MAR 2011 | 1117 | ||
4x100 Metres Relay | 41.07 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 29 AUG 2015 | 1262 | ||
4x200 Metres Relay | 1:30.23 | Philadelphia, PA (USA) | 28 APR 2001 | 1178 | ||
4x400 Metres Relay | 3:31.50 | Gainesville, FL (USA) | 01 APR 2016 | 1126 |
Discipline | Performance | Wind | Venue | Date | Records | Results Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
50 Metres | 6.08 | MSG, New York, NY (USA) | 28 JAN 2012 | 1197 | ||
60 Metres | 7.00 | Aspire Dome, Doha (QAT) | 14 MAR 2010 | 1220 | ||
200 Metres | 22.38 | National Indoor Arena, Birmingham (GBR) | 18 FEB 2005 | 1238 | ||
400 Metres | 52.24 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) | 22 JAN 2005 | 1151 | ||
4x400 Metres Relay | 3:34.82 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) | 13 MAR 2004 | 1123 |
Discipline | Performance | Wind | Place | Date | Records | Results Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100 Metres | 11.20 | +1.2 | Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL (USA) | 05 JUN 2021 | 1157 | |
100 Metres | 11.17 | +2.2 | Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL (USA) | 05 JUN 2021 | 1150 | |
200 Metres | 23.73 | -1.1 | Zable Stadium - College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA (USA) | 03 APR 2021 | 1068 |
Discipline | Performance | Wind | Place | Date | Records | Results Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
60 Metres | 7.34 | Virginia Beach Sports Center, Virginia Beach, VA (USA) | 06 FEB 2021 | 1104 |
Performance | Wind | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 11.20 | +1.2 | Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL (USA) | 05 JUN 2021 |
2018 | 11.50 | +0.2 | Stade Raymond Petit, Tomblaine (FRA) | 27 JUN 2018 |
2017 | 10.84 | +1.1 | Montverde, FL (USA) | 10 JUN 2017 |
2016 | 10.83 | +1.6 | Montverde, FL (USA) | 11 JUN 2016 |
2015 | 10.89 | -0.2 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 24 AUG 2015 |
2014 | 10.86 | +2.0 | Clermont, FL (USA) | 07 JUN 2014 |
2013 | 11.01 | 0.0 | National Stadium, Kingston (JAM) | 04 MAY 2013 |
2012 | 10.81 | +1.5 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 04 AUG 2012 |
2011 | 10.76 | +1.1 | Mestský Stadion, Ostrava (CZE) | 31 MAY 2011 |
2010 | 10.78 | +0.8 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) | 03 JUL 2010 |
2009 | 10.89 | +1.2 | Shanghai (CHN) | 20 SEP 2009 |
2008 | 10.87 | 0.0 | Crystal Palace, London (GBR) | 26 JUL 2008 |
2007 | 10.89 | +1.0 | Kingston (JAM) | 23 JUN 2007 |
2006 | 10.99 | +1.0 | Carson, CA (USA) | 21 MAY 2006 |
2005 | 10.85 | +0.4 | Zürich (SUI) | 19 AUG 2005 |
2004 | 10.91 | 0.0 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) | 19 SEP 2004 |
2002 | 11.00 | +1.5 | Manchester (GBR) | 27 JUL 2002 |
2001 | 11.13 | +1.2 | Kingston (JAM) | 06 APR 2001 |
2000 | 11.12 | +2.0 | E.Nacional, Santiago de Chile (CHI) | 18 OCT 2000 |
1999 | 11.49 | +0.6 | Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak Stadium, Bydgoszcz (POL) | 16 JUL 1999 |
1998 | 11.70 | +2.0 | Grand Cayman (CAY) | 07 JUL 1998 |
Performance | Wind | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | 23.73 | -1.1 | Zable Stadium - College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA (USA) | 03 APR 2021 |
2017 | 22.60 | +1.6 | Gainesville, FL (USA) | 30 MAR 2017 |
2016 | 22.29 | +0.5 | Clermont, FL (USA) | 30 APR 2016 |
2015 | 21.97 | +0.2 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 28 AUG 2015 |
2014 | 22.94 | +1.9 | Clermont, FL (USA) | 10 MAY 2014 |
2013 | 22.53 | -1.3 | Icahn Stadium, New York, NY (USA) | 25 MAY 2013 |
2012 | 22.32 | +1.0 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 07 AUG 2012 |
2011 | 22.22 | -1.0 | DS, Daegu (KOR) | 02 SEP 2011 |
2010 | 21.98 | +1.4 | Icahn Stadium, New York, NY (USA) | 12 JUN 2010 |
2009 | 22.29 | +0.5 | Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER) | 20 AUG 2009 |
2008 | 21.74 | +0.6 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 21 AUG 2008 |
2007 | 22.34 | +1.7 | Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka (JPN) | 31 AUG 2007 |
2006 | 22.51 | +1.8 | National Stadium, Kingston (JAM) | 06 MAY 2006 |
2005 | 22.35 | 0.0 | Torino (ITA) | 03 JUN 2005 |
2004 | 22.05 | +0.8 | Olympic Stadium, Athina (GRE) | 25 AUG 2004 |
2002 | 22.39 | +0.4 | Odessa, TX (USA) | 18 MAY 2002 |
2001 | 22.92 | +0.5 | Kingston (JAM) | 07 APR 2001 |
2000 | 22.87 | +0.7 | E.Nacional, Santiago de Chile (CHI) | 21 OCT 2000 |
1999 | 23.73 | 0.0 | Kingston (JAM) | 19 JUN 1999 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 52.95 | Orlando, FL (USA) | 19 MAR 2016 |
2015 | 53.53 | Orlando, FL (USA) | 28 MAR 2015 |
2013 | 55.22 | Lake Buena Vista, FL (USA) | 23 MAR 2013 |
2011 | 52.25 | Orlando, FL (USA) | 26 MAR 2011 |
2010 | 52.77 | Knoxville, TN (USA) | 09 APR 2010 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 41.36 | Estádio Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro (BRA) | 19 AUG 2016 |
2015 | 41.07 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 29 AUG 2015 |
2014 | 41.83 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (GBR) | 02 AUG 2014 |
2012 | 41.41 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 10 AUG 2012 |
2011 | 41.70 | DS, Daegu (KOR) | 04 SEP 2011 |
2008 | 42.24 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 21 AUG 2008 |
2007 | 42.01 | Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka (JPN) | 01 SEP 2007 |
2005 | 41.99 | Olympiastadion, Helsinki (FIN) | 13 AUG 2005 |
2004 | 41.73 | Olympic Stadium, Athina (GRE) | 27 AUG 2004 |
2002 | 42.73 | Manchester (GBR) | 31 JUL 2002 |
2000 | 42.13 | Olympic Stadium, Sydney (AUS) | 30 SEP 2000 |
1999 | 43.69 | Tampa, FL (USA) | 11 JUL 1999 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | 1:31.73 | T. Robinson Stadium, Nassau (BAH) | 02 MAY 2015 |
2001 | 1:30.23 | Philadelphia, PA (USA) | 28 APR 2001 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 3:31.50 | Gainesville, FL (USA) | 01 APR 2016 |
2015 | 3:38.01 | Coral Gables, FL (USA) | 21 MAR 2015 |
2013 | 3:33.82 | Austin, TX (USA) | 30 MAR 2013 |
2010 | 3:41.10 | Lawrence, KS (USA) | 17 APR 2010 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2011/12 | 6.08 | MSG, New York, NY (USA) | 28 JAN 2012 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2020/21 | 7.34 | Virginia Beach Sports Center, Virginia Beach, VA (USA) | 06 FEB 2021 |
2013/14 | 7.13 | Ergo Arena, Sopot (POL) | 09 MAR 2014 |
2011/12 | 7.01 | Ataköy Arena, Istanbul (TUR) | 11 MAR 2012 |
2010/11 | 7.11 | MSG, New York, NY (USA) | 28 JAN 2011 |
2009/10 | 7.00 | Aspire Dome, Doha (QAT) | 14 MAR 2010 |
2005/06 | 7.04 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) | 10 FEB 2006 |
2004/05 | 7.09 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) | 11 FEB 2005 |
2003/04 | 7.20 | Lexington, KY (USA) | 29 FEB 2004 |
2002/03 | 7.09 | Norman, OK (USA) | 01 FEB 2003 |
2001/02 | 7.17 | Lincoln, NE (USA) | 02 FEB 2002 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2005/06 | 22.84 | National Indoor Arena, Birmingham (GBR) | 18 FEB 2006 |
2004/05 | 22.38 | National Indoor Arena, Birmingham (GBR) | 18 FEB 2005 |
2003/04 | 22.43 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) | 12 MAR 2004 |
2002/03 | 22.63 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) | 14 FEB 2003 |
2001/02 | 23.12 | Lincoln, NE (USA) | 02 FEB 2002 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2004/05 | 52.24 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) | 22 JAN 2005 |
Performance | Place | Date | |
---|---|---|---|
2003/04 | 3:34.82 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) | 13 MAR 2004 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 200 Metres | 21.74 | +0.6 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 21 AUG 2008 |
1. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 41.73 | Olympic Stadium, Athina (GRE) | 27 AUG 2004 | |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.05 | +0.8 | Olympic Stadium, Athina (GRE) | 25 AUG 2004 |
2. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 41.36 | Estádio Olímpico, Rio de Janeiro (BRA) | 19 AUG 2016 | |
2. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 41.41 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 10 AUG 2012 | |
2. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 42.13 | Olympic Stadium, Sydney (AUS) | 30 SEP 2000 | |
3. | 100 Metres | 10.81 | +1.5 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 04 AUG 2012 |
3. | 100 Metres | 10.97 | -0.1 | Olympic Stadium, Athina (GRE) | 21 AUG 2004 |
4. | 200 Metres | 22.38 | -0.2 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 08 AUG 2012 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 41.07 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 29 AUG 2015 | |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.22 | -1.0 | DS, Daegu (KOR) | 02 SEP 2011 |
1. | 100 Metres | 11.01 | -0.2 | Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka (JPN) | 27 AUG 2007 |
2. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 41.70 | DS, Daegu (KOR) | 04 SEP 2011 | |
2. | 100 Metres | 10.97 | -1.4 | DS, Daegu (KOR) | 29 AUG 2011 |
2. | 200 Metres | 22.35 | -0.1 | Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER) | 21 AUG 2009 |
2. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 42.01 | Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka (JPN) | 01 SEP 2007 | |
2. | 200 Metres | 22.34 | +1.7 | Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka (JPN) | 31 AUG 2007 |
2. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 41.99 | Olympiastadion, Helsinki (FIN) | 13 AUG 2005 | |
2. | 100 Metres | 10.95 | +1.3 | Olympiastadion, Helsinki (FIN) | 08 AUG 2005 |
3. | 200 Metres | 21.97 | +0.2 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 28 AUG 2015 |
4. | 100 Metres | 10.91 | -0.3 | National Stadium, Beijing (CHN) | 24 AUG 2015 |
4. | 100 Metres | 10.95 | +0.1 | Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER) | 17 AUG 2009 |
4. | 200 Metres | 22.38 | +0.2 | Olympiastadion, Helsinki (FIN) | 12 AUG 2005 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 100 Metres | 11.04 | -0.7 | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) | 28 AUG 2014 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.89 | 0.0 | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) | 19 AUG 2010 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 60 Metres | 7.01 | Ataköy Arena, Istanbul (TUR) | 11 MAR 2012 | |
1. | 60 Metres | 7.00 | Aspire Dome, Doha (QAT) | 14 MAR 2010 | |
5. | 60 Metres | 7.13 | Ergo Arena, Sopot (POL) | 09 MAR 2014 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 42.14 | T. Robinson Stadium, Nassau (BAH) | 03 MAY 2015 | |
2. | 4x200 Metres Relay | 1:31.73 | T. Robinson Stadium, Nassau (BAH) | 02 MAY 2015 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 100 Metres | 11.08 | -1.5 | Le Grande Stade, Marrakesh (MAR) | 13 SEP 2014 |
1. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 42.44 | Le Grande Stade, Marrakesh (MAR) | 13 SEP 2014 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 200 Metres | 22.87 | +0.7 | E.Nacional, Santiago de Chile (CHI) | 21 OCT 2000 |
1. | 100 Metres | 11.12 | +2.0 | E.Nacional, Santiago de Chile (CHI) | 18 OCT 2000 |
2. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 44.05 | E.Nacional, Santiago de Chile (CHI) | 22 OCT 2000 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 44.30 | Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak Stadium, Bydgoszcz (POL) | 17 JUL 1999 | |
1. | 100 Metres | 11.49 | +0.6 | Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak Stadium, Bydgoszcz (POL) | 16 JUL 1999 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 41.65 | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) | 01 SEP 2016 | |
1. | 100 Metres | 11.04 | -0.7 | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) | 28 AUG 2014 |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.53 | -1.3 | Icahn Stadium, New York, NY (USA) | 25 MAY 2013 |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.50 | +2.8 | Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai (CHN) | 19 MAY 2012 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.92 | +1.2 | Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai (CHN) | 15 MAY 2011 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.89 | 0.0 | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) | 19 AUG 2010 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.78 | +0.8 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) | 03 JUL 2010 |
1. | 200 Metres | 21.98 | +1.4 | Icahn Stadium, New York, NY (USA) | 12 JUN 2010 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 100 Metres | 10.92 | -0.2 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) | 09 SEP 2005 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.91 | 0.0 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) | 19 SEP 2004 |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.64 | -2.2 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) | 18 SEP 2004 |
2. | 200 Metres | 22.37 | -0.6 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) | 10 SEP 2005 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 100 Metres | 11.11 | 0.0 | Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles (BEL) | 14 SEP 2007 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.85 | +0.4 | Zürich (SUI) | 19 AUG 2005 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 41.83 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (GBR) | 02 AUG 2014 | |
2. | 100 Metres | 11.03 | +0.3 | Hampden Park, Glasgow (GBR) | 28 JUL 2014 |
2. | 200 Metres | 22.72 | +0.6 | Melbourne (AUS) | 23 MAR 2006 |
2. | 4x100 Metres Relay | 42.73 | Manchester (GBR) | 31 JUL 2002 | |
2. | 100 Metres | 11.00 | +1.5 | Manchester (GBR) | 27 JUL 2002 |
Place | Discipline | Mark | Wind | Place | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 100 Metres | 10.96 | -0.4 | Kingston (JAM) | 27 JUN 2014 |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.44 | +0.1 | Kingston (JAM) | 26 JUN 2011 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.84 | +0.3 | Kingston (JAM) | 24 JUN 2011 |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.40 | -1.1 | Kingston (JAM) | 28 JUN 2009 |
1. | 200 Metres | 21.94 | +1.1 | Kingston (JAM) | 29 JUN 2008 |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.39 | +0.8 | Kingston (JAM) | 24 JUN 2007 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.89 | +1.0 | Kingston (JAM) | 23 JUN 2007 |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.53 | -0.2 | Kingston (JAM) | 26 JUN 2005 |
1. | 100 Metres | 10.97 | +0.4 | Kingston (JAM) | 25 JUN 2005 |
1. | 100 Metres | 11.06 | -1.2 | Kingston (JAM) | 27 JUN 2004 |
1. | 200 Metres | 22.18 | +1.1 | Kingston (JAM) | 27 JUN 2004 |
1. | 100 Metres | 11.01 | -0.2 | Kingston (JAM) | 21 JUN 2002 |
Date | Competition | Cnt. | Cat | Race | Pl. | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
06 FEB 2021 | East Coast Invitational, Virginia Beach Sports Center, Virginia Beach, VA |
![]() |
F | H1 | 1. | 7.43 |
06 FEB 2021 | East Coast Invitational, Virginia Beach Sports Center, Virginia Beach, VA |
![]() |
F | F | 2. | 7.34 |
Date | Competition | Cnt. | Cat | Race | Pl. | Result | Wind |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
24 APR 2021 | Aggie Classic, Irwin Belk Track, Greensboro, NC |
![]() |
F | H1 | 1. | 11.72 | +0.1 |
09 MAY 2021 | USATF Golden Games, Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, CA |
![]() |
A | H1 | 4. | 11.28 | +1.1 |
09 MAY 2021 | USATF Golden Games, Hilmer Lodge Stadium, Walnut, CA |
![]() |
A | F | 5. | 11.31 | -1.2 |
18 MAY 2021 | USATF Open, Fort Worth, TX |
![]() |
C | H2 | 1. | 11.56 | -2.8 |
18 MAY 2021 | USATF Open, Fort Worth, TX |
![]() |
C | F1 | 2. | 11.55 | -3.3 |
31 MAY 2021 | Duval County Challenge, Jax Track at Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, FL |
![]() |
C | H2 | 5. | 11.33 | +2.0 |
05 JUN 2021 | NACAC New Life Invitational, Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL |
![]() |
B | H2 | 1. | 11.17 | +2.2 |
05 JUN 2021 | NACAC New Life Invitational, Ansin Sports Complex, Miramar, FL |
![]() |
B | F2 | 5. | 11.20 | +1.2 |
Date | Competition | Cnt. | Cat | Race | Pl. | Result | Wind |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
03 APR 2021 | Colonial Relays, Zable Stadium - College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA |
![]() |
F | F1 | 1. | 23.73 | -1.1 |
Focus on Athletes biographies are produced by the IAAF Communications Dept, and not by the IAAF Statistics and Documentation Division. If you have any enquiries concerning the information, please use the Contact IAAF page, selecting ‘Focus on Athletes Biographies’ in the drop down menu of contact area options.
Updated 9 August 2008
Veronica CAMPBELL-BROWN (nee Campbell), Jamaica (100/200/4x100m)
Born 15 May 1982, Trelawny
Lives: Orlando, Florida
1.63 / 61kg
Coach: Lance Brauman
Manager: Claude Bryan
Who would have thought it? Consider the great names from Jamaica - past and present, men and women - who have graced the 100m. Herb McKenley, Lennox Miller, Don Quarrie, Merlene Ottey, Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt. But none has won a senior global gold medal in the blue riband event of athletics. That historic first moment belongs to Veronica Campbell after her triumph at the 2007 World Championships, in Osaka.
But the recently-married (November 2007) Veronica Campbell-Brown is accustomed to making history. Winner of the first World Youth Championships 100m in 1999, she was also the first to achieve the women’s sprint double at the World Junior Championships, in 2000, and is the first Jamaican woman to hold an Olympic sprint title, having taken the 200m gold at Athens 2004.
The day after Powell had disappointed his homeland by finishing third, behind Tyson Gay (United States) and Derrick Atkins (Bahamas) in the men’s 100m Final in Osaka, Campbell raised the Jamaican flag in the closest of finishes After a long delay for the result to be confirmed – both Campbell and defending champion Lauryn Williams (US) timed 11.01 – she was able to celebrate her latest entry into the national record books.
Until Campbell ended the 111-year wait, since the first modern Olympics in 1896, for a Jamaican Olympic or World 100m champion, the list of near misses was long indeed: 1952 Olympics: McKenley - runner-up to Lindy Remigino (US); 1968 Olympics: Miller - runner-up to Jim Hines (US); 1976 Olympics: Quarrie - runner-up to Hasely Crawford (Trinidad); 1987 World Championships - Ray Stewart runner-up to Carl Lewis (US); 1992 Olympics: Juliet Cuthbert - runner-up to Gail Devers (US); 1993 World Championships: Ottey - runner-up to Devers; 1995 World Championships: Ottey - runner-up to Gwen Torrence (US). 1996 Olympics: Ottey - runner-up to Devers; And, in the 2005 World Championships, in Helsinki, even Campbell herself finished runner-up, to Williams.
Adding to Jamaica’s catalogue of near misses, at the 2000 Olympics Tanya Lawrence finished third behind Marion Jones (US) and Katerina Thanou (Greece). The American and Greek have since been discredited for doping offences. At the 2005 World Championships, Michael Frater finished second to Justin Gatlin, another American who was later banned.
All of which left Campbell to make the big breakthrough. Her road to history began in Trelawny, the parish which has produced many prominent Jamaican athletes, among them Merlene Frazer, Ben Johnson, Michael Green and Bolt. More specifically, it began along the track between the family home and local grocery store. Mum, having identified her daughter’s speed, put it to practical use, setting young Veronica as the automatic timer for dinner.
“I was always the favourite child to be sent to the grocery store to buy groceries because I would do it so quickly,” Campbell recalled. “It was a dirt path and I would run there and back. It wasn’t very far and, if my mum sent me to get some eggs for breakfast, she could put the fat on the fire and know I would be back in time before it burned out. So I have been running from a very tender age.”
Whether it was fetching the eggs or shattering the egos of local boys who thought they could outrun her, Campbell never doubted her ability. “The boys always thought they could beat me, so we would always compete to prove a point, and I always won,” she recalled. “I was around 9 or 10, the boys were maybe 15. There was one particular guy who was an athlete and he always thought he was the fastest but I would always beat him.”
How long did it take him to get the message? “I guess he didn’t get it because he didn’t beat me once and kept coming back,” Campbell said. “I haven’t seen him for many years, so I don’t know where he is.”
Like Gay, the World 100 and 200m champion, Campbell was in Osaka while their coach, Lance Brauman, was in prison on fraud charges. According to Campbell, Brauman continued to set her sessions, coaching by telephone. At the World Championships, Omar Brown, the Commonwealth 200m champion and her fiancé at the time would oversee her workouts. Now Campbell trains under Brauman in Orlando, Florida. Of her relationship with her coach, Campbell said: “I have been working with him for a long time, since my junior college days, so it is a long relationship. He is a great coach and we get along well. His workouts really work for me.”
Campbell is grateful for the inspirational role played by Ottey in her career. “Merlene is a wonderful person, she has always been my hero,” Campbell said. “We communicate on a regular basis. She has always given me good encouragement. I learned about Merlene Ottey when I went to Vere Technical High School. She was a student there and everybody at Vere spoke highly of her.
“My first memory of athletics on TV was the Atlanta Olympics. The women’s 100m was very exciting – Merlene and Gail Devers and that photo-finish was one of the most memorable things of the Olympics.” That photo-finish, to which Campbell refers, resulted in Devers, from the US, taking gold in 10.94, the same time as Ottey, who had to settle for silver.
Campbell has four sisters and five brothers, although she was raised in a split family. “I didn’t grow up with all my brothers and sisters, I was brought up with mum and stepdad,” she said. “It was a small house. My father used to do sports and I have two bigger brothers who used to run track in high school but, apart from them, I am the only one who is an athlete in my family.”
It was from Vere that Campbell went to Barton County College in Kansas, where she met Brauman. Then she went to the University of Arkansas from where she graduated in 2006. Why Arskansas? “When I was trying to decide which university I would go to after leaving junior college I went on a few visits and I was fascinated by the business programme at Arkansas,” she said. “That was one of my reasons for going there then Omar wanted to go there and there were other Jamaicans there. I wanted to go somewhere where I would feel at home away from home.”
Campbell has won four Olympic and five World Championships medals. They include not only her 100m triumph in Osaka but the 200m title at the Athens Olympics She will defend this title in Beijing but, after finishing fourth in the Jamaican trials, she was named only as reserve for the 100m. Naturally, she is also included in the 4x100m squad.
Brown and Campbell were married in Montego Bay. Guests included Gay, Ottey and Prime Minister Bruce Golding. The newlyweds share a number of interests away from the track. They play each other at golf and bowling. When it comes to spending her winnings, Campbell says that her only real indulgence is her collection of Louis Vuitton handbags.
Campbell added: “I have not fully maximised my potential in this sport so I am just working hard and looking forward to the future. Hopefully, I can create some more history before the end of my career. I just want to be the best I can be, whatever that is.”
Personal Bests
100m: 10.85 (2005)
200m: 21.94 (2008)
Yearly Progression
100m: 1999: 11.49; 2000: 11.12; 2001: 11.13; 2002; 11.00; 2003: -; 2004: 10.91; 2005: 10.85; 2006: 10.99; 2007: 10.89; 2008: 10.87.
200m: 1999: 23.73; 2000: 22.87; 2001: 22.92; 2002: 22.39; 2003: -; 2004: 22.05; 2005: 22.35/22.29w; 2006: 22.51; 2007: 22.34; 2008: 21.94.
Career Highlights
1999 1st World Youth Championships (100m)
2000 1st World Junior Championships (100/200m)
2000 2nd World Junior Championships (4x100m)
2000 2nd Olympic Games (4x100m)
2002 2nd, Commonwealth Games (100m/4x100m)
2004 1st Olympic Games (200/4x100m)
2004 3rd Olympic Games (100m)
2004 1st World Athletics Final (100m/200m)
2005 2nd World Championships (100/4x100m)
2005 4th World Championships (200m)
2005 1st World Athletics Final (100m)
2005 2nd World Athletics Final (200m)
2006 2nd Commonwealth Games (200m)
2007 1st World Championships (100m)
2007 2nd World Championships (200/4x100m)
Prepared by David Powell for the IAAF ‘Focus on Athletes’ project. Copyright IAAF 2008.