Women’s 200m final
Steven Downes for the IAAF
21 October 2000 – Veronica Campbell further marked herself out as the next great Jamaican sprinter, when she became the first woman to complete the 100-200 metres sprint double at the World Junior Championships here on Saturday, as she took the 200m final in commanding style.
For not only did the double gold medallist from last year’s World Youth Championships win her second gold of this week, she did so with her second championship record of the week, 22.87sec.
Campbell, aged 18, was driven to this new level of performance by her close rivalry with Germany’s double European Junior champion from 1999, Sina Schielke. But the Jamaican was too strong off the bend, leaving the German to take silver with 23.20, with Vida Anim, of Ghana, third in 23.81.
"It is really important to me to be the first woman to win the 100 and 200 metres at the World Juniors," Campbell said.
"I was told to run the corner hard and to use the momentum down the straight." Campbell said that she never felt under any pressure from Schielke, who was drawn in the lane outside her. "I knew I would catch her when we were on the straight," she said.
Campbell – a relay silver medallist at last month’s Sydney Olympics – could yet win a third gold medal here in Sunday’s 4x100m relay.
Comparisons will doubtless soon be drawn between Campbell and the world’s No.1 senior sprinter of the moment, Marion Jones of the United States, or with the icon of Jamaican athletics, Merlene Ottey.
The young Jamaican, who lives in Trelawney, may get a chance to race against Jones next year at the IAAF World Championships in Edmonton. But with her rapidly growing collection of gold medals, Campbell is already exceeding the achievements of Ottey’s early career.
