Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

Berlin, Germany:

Veronica Campbell-Brown crowned a difficult season yesterday when she won the silver medal in the women's 200-metres final at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

The 27-year-old, who was attempting to add World Championship gold to the Olympic title she won last year, was dogged by injury for a large slice of the season and arrived in Berlin well short of her best form.

She, however, displayed her now-famous, grit and determination to grab second behind the three-time world champion, Allyson Felix of the United States.

Felix clocked 22.02 seconds for gold, with Campbell-Brown getting silver in 22.35. Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of The Bahamas took bronze in 22.41.

Jamaica, leaders overnight in the medal standing, dropped to second as the United States won two gold medals on the track. The Americans have 16 medals - six gold, five silver and five bronzes.

Jamaica are next with 10 overall - five gold, three silver and two bronze. Russia are in third with four gold, two silver and two bronze, while the hosts, Germany, are fourth with two gold, two silver and three bronze.

The women had to battle cold and wet conditions after steady rain and a thunderstorm in late afternoon and early evening forced a 40-minute delay to the 200m final inside the Berlin Olympic Stadium.

A good reward

Campbell-Brown said silver was a good reward for a season that had not gone very well.

"Considering the circumstances, I am very proud of myself. I think that it takes a true champion to come out and perform the way that I did, because after I hurt my toe, my doctor said I needed to take 21 weeks out. And I am like, if I take 21 weeks off, I won't be able to run at the World Championships, and nothing was going to stop me from competing here.

"So I am happy that I came here and earned a silver medal."

Gold-medal winner Felix said the win was special.

"I defended my title. I could not ask for more."

She added that the victory happened in a stadium with a lot of memories. Athletes from the United States have been wearing a sticker with the initials 'JO' in memory of Jesse Owens, who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Jamaica's two other competitors in the event, Anneisha McLaughlin and Simone Facey, placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in 22.62 and 22.80.

McLaughlin, now coached by Stephen Francis of the world-famous MVP Track Club, was more than satisfied with her final placing.

The 2002 World Junior silver medallist said: "I am overwhelmed and very happy as I did not expect to do this well. I really surprised myself."

In the women's long jump, Jovanee Jarrett did not get past the qualifying rounds. She had a best of 6.43 metres for seventh spot in Group B.