Veronica Campbell-Brown savours golden moment

DAEGU, South Korea:Finally, it was gold sweet gold for Veronica Campbell-Brown in Daegu, South Korea, as she conquered one of the best fields ever assembled in the women's 200m to claim her first-ever IAAF World Championships in Athletics title over the distance.

In what was Jamaica's most productive day at the championships, the team of Allodin Fothergill, Jermaine Gonzales, Riker Hylton and Leford Green produced Jamaica's first 4x400m medal since 2005, by picking up the bronze medal behind the United States and South Africa.

Campbell-Brown left the starting blocks in a hurry and showed good strength and determination to fend off a late-race challenge from 100m champion Carmelita Jeter, to cross the line in her fastest time this year, 22.22 seconds, with the American stopping the clock at 22.37.

Defending champion Allyson Felix was third in 22.42 seconds, with Jamaicans Kerron Stewart, 22.70, and Sherone Simpson, 23.17, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively.

It became clear right after the race just how much the victory meant to the Jamaican, who stooped on the track as tears began to flow down her cheeks.

"It's been a long time coming so I am thankful to God for giving me the strength to execute," said Campbell-Brown. "I didn't want to go home with two silver medals. I missed out on a gold medal in the 100m and I knew I had to come out here and give it my absolute best; running a good curve was key to victory tonight."

Jamaica has had a strong history in the 4x400m at the World Championships level, winning medals at every championships in all but one instalment since 1991, when the country missed out at the 1993 version in Stuttgart, Germany.

However, the nation has not seen a mile relay medal since the 2005 championships in Paris when the team of Sanjay Ayre, Brandon Simpson, Lansford Spence and Davian Clarke won bronze in 2:58.07.

Additionally, the team didn't even make the final in Berlin two years ago, but a great team effort here in Daegu ensured that the Jamaicans returned to the medal podium.

This time around, Jamaica could only enter two persons in the 400m here and only one of them had an 'A' qualifying standard. This made the bronze medal even sweeter for the Jamaicans.

Gonzales, who barely missed a medal in the 400m final when he placed fourth, was extremely proud of the efforts of the team and believes it has set them up nicely going into the Olympic Games in 2012.

"I'm extremely happy. A lot of people in Jamaica have been doubting the quarter-milers for the past couple of years, and so just to get the bronze here with such young guys on the team shows that there is a future in the event in Jamaica," Gonzales said.

Earlier in the day, the Jamaican trio of defending champion Brigitte Foster-Hyton, Vonette Dixon and national champion Indira Spence all progressed to the next round.

Kenia Sinclair finished third in her semi-final and will be running in the 800m final at the World Championships for the first time in her career, while Wilbert Walker could only manage a best of 15.97 in the men's triple jump and failed to move on to the finals.

Usain Bolt and Nickel Ashmeade both secured lanes in the men's 200m final - Bolt winning his semi-final with significant ease, while Ashmeade finished second in his semi.

Jamaica also booked a spot in the women's 4x400m final yesterday by registering a comprehensive victory in the heats. The Jamaican team was made up of Rosemarie Whyte, Shereefa Lloyd, Patricia Hall and Davita Prendergast.

andre.lowe@gleanerjm.com