Series06 Apr 2010


Gold in Doha, and a gold coin in Jamaica

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Veronica Campbell Brown presented with a gold coin recognising her efforts at the Beijing Olympics (© Freelance)

A gold medal at the World Indoor Championships in Doha was not the only recent award won by Veronica Campbell Brown as the Jamaican central bank, The Bank of Jamaica, also presented her with a gold coin recognising her achievements at the Beijing Olympics two years ago.

The newly minted World Indoors 60m champion has put her first indoors season since 2006 behind her and is now eagerly looking forward to the outdoors season.

"Hello fans and readers. March, what a month!

"Lots of traveling and some success. I went to my first World Indoor Championships and must say I left asking why had I not done this before?

"Perhaps it is the wonderful organization, perhaps it was the warm temperatures, imagine competing at an indoor championships and being able to train outdoors at the venue. It does not get better than that for a Jamaican!

"I arrived in Doha approximately four days before the competition started and although I never truly got over the jet lag, with the help of my coach I was able to put my race together and win the 60m title in a new personal best of 7.00 seconds.

"It would have been nice to have gone under the seven seconds barrier but it is better to win and let the time take care of itself.

"I returned from Doha and my training group had a dinner celebration for my victory at a Japanese restaurant in Atlanta. My coach’s wife also had a party subsequent to that. I was very appreciative of those gestures.

"From Atlanta, I took a quick trip to Jamaica to watch the 100th renewal of our high school athletics championships more popularly known as “Champs”.
Despite following the results each year, I had not been back to a championships since 2001 when I last competed there for Vere Technical.

"Omar, my husband, Dexter Lee my training partner and World Youth and Junior 100m champion, my manager Claude Bryan and his wife Juanita were there as well with me.

"Unfortunately, my high school, which once dominated the girls portion of “Champs”, did not win, however, they finished in the top five.
I was so impressed with the level of performances and I am confident that the young talents I saw will be excellent replacements for those of us currently at the top of our game once we hang up our spikes.

"Speaking of hanging up of spikes. My teammate Lacena retired from the sport. I enjoyed touring with her and I wish her all the best in her new endeavor. She made the finals in Doha and along with Wignall and Trammell made sure that all the athletes from our management team made it to the finals in Doha.

"Jamaica is of course the place for some good food and I made sure I got some jerk chicken rice and peas and fish. Regrettably, I could not indulge in the ice cream and other “goodies” I would have wanted as it is track season. I will make up for it come September… LOL.

"Jamaica’s central bank, the Bank of Jamaica saw it fit to bestow to me a gold coin for my Beijing effort. Earlier in my career, I had been given a silver coin by the bank. It would be nice to be called back there in the future for a.. diamond or platinum coin… LOL.

"Now it is on to outdoors and I will begin competing mid-April.

“Until next time,

VCB

Note - Campbell Brown, who was named as a UNESCO Champion of sport, taped a video appeal on behalf of the victims of the Haitian earthquake and it has been released on the UNESCO  website. You can watch her appeal here: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/haiti-quake/

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