Ver set to join gold rush
Published: Friday | August 21, 2009
Veronica Campbell-Brown (right) runs to the finish line with The Bahamas' Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie (second right), France's Joanna Danois (second left) and Eleni Artymata of Cyprus, during the 200 metres semi-final at the World Championships in Athletics in Berlin yesterday. - Oliver Wright/Staff Photographer
Berlin, Germany:
Olympic 200 metres champion, Veronica Campbell-Brown, will be seeking to join the gold rush in Berlin when she runs in the women's 200 metres final at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin today.
Campbell-Brown, who has been dogged by injury for much of the past four months, clocked a season-best 22.29 for second in Semi-final One yesterday.
She was clipped by Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of The Bahamas, 22.24, as the two clocked the two best times of the round.
The Olympic champion admitted after the first round of the 200m that she was feeling good and "staying positive" ahead of the semi-finals and final, and could surprise favourite and two-time champion Allyson Felix of the United States today.
The island will be represented by three women in the 200 metres final, to be run at 2 p.m. in Jamaica (9 p.m. Berlin time).
Anneisha McLaughlin, who won silver at the World Junior Championships seven years ago, and Simone Facey both reached their first senior championships finals.
OUT OF MEDALS
McLaughlin, now being coached by Stephen Francis of the MVP Club, lowered her personal best for the second time in the meet with 22.55 for second behind the defending champion Felix, who looked her usual smooth self in crossing the line in an easy 22.44.
Facey, 22.58, was also second in Semi-final Three behind another American, Muna Lee, who won the heat in 22.30. Both registered season-best times.
Jamaica's two representatives finished out of the medals in the men's 110 metres hurdles final, which produced a first-ever gold for Barbados at the World Championships.
Maurice Wignall was fifth in a season-best 13.31, while Dwight Thomas was seventh in 13.56.
In a very close three-way finish, Brathwaite edged out Americans Terrence Trammell and David Payne for gold in a Barbadian national record 13.14 seconds. Trammell and Payne were both awarded the same time, 13.15.
Wignall was very upset with himself as he thought he had it in him to get a better placing, but he was hit with a calf problem shortly after the gun went off in the final.
"As soon as I was approaching hurdle one I felt a cramp in my calf. Of all the races it happened this time. I was feeling very good. I take this very personal because I really thought I could have done much better. I am in good shape and it is just one of those things."
SEVERELY WEAKEN
The two men in the long jump both placed 11th in their respective groups and failed to advance to tomorrow's final. Alain Bailey had a best leap of 7.88m in Group A, which was topped by American Dwight Phillips 8.44m in his only attempt.
In Group B, Nicholas Gordon got up to 7.92m as Great Britain's Greg Rutherford led the way with a national record of 8.30m.
Injuries and fatigue are threatening to severely weaken Jamaica's men's 4x100m team ahead of today's semi-finals. Bronze medallist Asafa Powell, who is suffering from a groin problem sustained prior to the 100m final on Sunday, is out, while Bolt said last night that he will be running in only the final.
The doctors and his coaches are in a race against time to get Powell ready for the final tomorrow.
"Asafa will not run in the heats. The doctors are trying to get him ready for the final but I don't know. He has not done any work since his run on Sunday. He is walking better but I think it is too early to say right now," coach Stephen Francis said on Wednesday.
Medals table
BERLIN (AP):
Medals table from the World Athletics Championships: (After 27 of 47 events)
| Nation | G | S | B | Tot |
| Jamaica | 5 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| United States | 4 | 4 | 5 | 13 |
| Russia | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| Germany | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Kenya | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Britain | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Poland | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Cuba | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Ethiopia | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Bahrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Barbados | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Croatia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Slovenia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| South Africa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| China | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Canada | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Czech Republic | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Eritrea | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Panama | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Portugal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Estonia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| France | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mexico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Trinidad | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1
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