'I have to concentrate on my own race' - Campbell-Brown intrigued by Felix clash, but focused on winning 200m

DAEGU, South Korea: Though intrigued by her impending clash with Allyson Felix in the 200 metres at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, national 100m and 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown is trying to remain focused on her own preparations going into the showdown.

Campbell-Brown who, like Felix, has been bombarded by questions about her expected showdown with the three-time defending world champion over 200m, is not becoming preoccupied with thoughts of Felix, and pointed out that the wiry American is not her only threat.

"Allyson is a very tough competitor, but at the end of the day it's not just Allyson and I who will be competing, there will be six other athletes in that final so I cannot sit here and think that it's just about Allyson and I, and at the same time I cannot focus too much on anyone else, I have to concentrate on my own race," said Campbell-Brown.

"Plus, there are so many people running fast this year and most of these races will come down to execution and mental toughness, and I am here to compete hard against everybody," she added.

One of the major subplots here in Daegu is Felix's domination over the Jamaican at these championships over the 200m. Campbell-Brown has won virtually all there is to win in international athletics, but is yet to stand at the top of a World Championships podium for the 200m.

Felix ran a world-leading 21.81 in 2007 (Paris) to win ahead of the Jamaican, who could only manage second despite posting a season's best 22.34. The story was the same in Berlin two years ago, when Felix's 22.02 bettered Campbell-Brown's 22.35.

However, Campbell-Brown, who enjoys a much better record against the American at the Olympic Games level, having beaten her at their two showdowns in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), believes her run of losses at the World Championships has as much to do with Felix's ability as her own problems with injuries during these years.

"I wouldn't say that I am weaker than her at the World Championships, I would say that Allyson has more success in the 200m at the World Championships and I have more success at the Olympics," Campbell-Brown rebutted.

"Over the last couple of years, something has always happened during the year of the World Championships, where I get hurt or the training does not go according to plan, but this year, thank God I am healthy and I am looking forward to going out there and competing," Campbell-Brown added.

Nonetheless, it's a rivalry that intrigues the Jamaican and one that she is looking to reap even richer rewards from this time around.

"I love to compete against Allyson, she is a fighter like myself and she loves to win like myself," Campbell-Brown said. "It's going to be tough, but I am looking forward to that because then it will be more exciting for everybody, not just the spectators, but also for us, the athletes."

Many believe that this will be Campbell-Brown's best chance to get the better of the in-form Felix, given the fact that the American will be attempting the tough 400m/200m double this year and should be considerably more spent from her three 400m rounds by the time they meet, as is expected, in the 200m final on September 2 (Jamaican time).

"Yes, it's the first time Allyson will be dong the 400m/200m double so I don't know how that is gong to affect her, but I am not focusing too much on her anyway, as I said," Campbell-Brown noted.

Campbell-Brown has been the faster of the two in the event this year, with a season best of 22.26 to Felix's 22.32. There are, however, a few threats to their 200m duel, with the likes of 100m specialist Carmelita Jeter looking to upset the apple cart.

PLEASE SEE race, B7

The above are the British Premier League matches scheduled for broadcast this weekend on SportsMax and Fox Soccer Plus. The incorrect set of matches was published yesterday. We regret the error.
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