VCB produces bright spark

André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter

DAEGU, South Korea:

Veronica Campbell-Brown continues to stock her medal cabinet after securing a silver medal in the women's 100m yesterday at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea.

It was Jamaica's second medal at the championships on what was an otherwise miserable day for the Caribbean powerhouse.

This is Campbell-Brown's eighth individual medal at the international senior level (Olympics and World Championships), but the reigning Olympic 200m champion had to call on every bit of ability and experience to bring herself back in contention with a 10.97-second finish, after a disastrous start.

She wasn't the only one who had issues at the beginning, as dethroned champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce stumbled out of the blocks and almost fell as she ended up fourth with 10.99, after leading for much of the way, while 2009 silver medallist Kerron Stewart was sixth in 11.29.

American Carmelita Jeter finally won a major title, taking the gold medal in 10.90, with Trinidadian Kelly-Ann Baptiste earning bronze in 10.98.

"I'm thankful to God for the medal. The execution of the race is not what I had hoped for, but I am happy that I was able to medal here tonight and finish healthy. I'll now refocus and get ready for the 200m," said a business-like Campbell-Brown.

She added: "This means a lot. It's not the colour that I would have hoped for but nevertheless I'm thankful, Carmelita ran a very good race."

In the men's 110m hurdles final, national record holder Dwight Thomas, who had been complaining of cramps since the semi-finals, could not finish the race and had to call it quits after clearing the second hurdle.

"It was a good race. I'm sorry I couldn't finish, but I was cramping up really bad," said Thomas. "My hamstring just kept grabbing me and they tried to massage it and gave me a lot of electrolytes.

"Once I pushed out of the blocks and cleared the first two hurdles, it really cramped up, and I had to just stop so as to prevent a more serious problem," Thomas added.

400m disappointment

In the other final contested by Jamaicans yesterday, Shericka Williams, 50.79, and Novlene Williams-Mills (52.89) finished sixth and eighth, respectively, in the women's 400m final.

Earlier in the day, Jason Morgan failed to qualify for the final of the men's discus, with a personal best of 61.75m, while Riker Hylton finished last in 46.99 in the men's 400m semi-finals.

However, national record holder Jermaine Gonzales was in a no-nonsense mood, overpowering a men's 400m field that included the likes of Rondell Bartholomew to win his semi-final and cement himself as a bona fide medal contender.

Gonzales, ran 44.99 to win his semi-final, making him the second-fastest qualifier heading into the final behind defending champion LaShawn Merritt, 44.76. Gonzales will run out of lane three in the final.

All four women progressed to the next round of the 400m hurdles, likewise all three men in their equivalent.

Melaine Walker showed why she is considered a championships athlete by belying a forgetful season to register the fastest time, 54.86, among qualifiers. Kaliese Spencer's 54.93 was also among the best times, while 18-year-old Ristananna Tracey, 55.96, produced a gutsy performance despite wearing a protective cast, to book her lane in the next round. Nickiesha Wilson is also through after posting 56.08 for fourth in her heat.

The women's and men's 400m hurdles semi-final will take place at 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. (Jamaica time), respectively, before Gonzales seeks to emulate his coach Bertland Cameron and strike gold in the 400m at the World Championships level, when he faces the starter at 7:45 a.m.