VCB very excited
Published:Thursday | August 25, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Campbell-Brown ready for competition
André Lowe, Senior Staff Reporter
DAEGU, South Korea:These days, there is a certain glow around Jamaican sprint queen Veronica Campbell-Brown.
Campbell-Brown, one of the most successful Jamaican athletes of all time with 12 medals won at the senior international level, is back at one of her favourite stamping grounds - the IAAF World Championships in Athletics - and even though things didn't go too well for her the last time around, she is not too bothered.
In addition to failing to make Jamaica's 100m team two years ago for the World Championships in Berlin, Germany, Campbell-Brown again lost to her chief rival, Allyson Felix, in the 200m final, finishing second and extending her winless streak against the wily American at the Worlds.
Nonetheless, the three-time Olympic gold medallist says she has moved on since 2009 and is now looking to put the hard work she has done over the past two seasons to the test.
"2009 is a long time ago and the way I look at life, I am quick to put aside my disappointments and move forward," said Campbell-Brown during an event hosted by her sponsor, adidas, on the Daegu Stadium compound in South Korea.
"(Now) I am very excited about the competition here. I am pleased about my preparation and I am looking forward to it, to representing my country, myself, my family."
Campbell-Brown has responded in no uncertain terms since that disappointing 2009, posting a personal-best 10.78 the following year in the 100 - the fastest time recorded for the season - and becoming the only woman to dip under 22 seconds in the 200m that year with 21.98.
Equally impressive season
This season has been equally impressive for the 29-year-old, who once again lowered her personal best in the 100m to 10.76, a result that justifies her confidence going into her highly anticipated clash with defending champion and compatriot, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Trinidad and Tobago's Kellyann Baptiste and the powerful American, Carmelita Jeter.
Campbell-Brown is, however, not taking anything for granted and is well aware of the difficulties that lie ahead.
"Yes, I ran a personal best this year and it's a great feeling to have done that earlier in the year. It will certainly give me a bit of confidence here at the Championships knowing that I can perform at my best," Campbell-Brown said.
Campbell-Brown remains one of the island's top medal prospects here, where she is expected to flourish in the women's 200m, the women's 100m, as well as the 4x100m relay.