Elton Tucker, Assistant Sport Editor
Left: Jamaica's gold medallist Sherone Simpson (right) and silver medallist Veronica Campbell (left) celebrate their performances in the women's 200m final at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne yesterday.
Right: Jamaica's gold medallist Omar Brown (right) and bronze medallist Chris Williams (left) celebrate after the men's 200m final at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne yesterday. - REUTERS
MELBOURNE:
SHERONE SIMPSON outlasted Olympic champion Veronica Campbell in the last 50 metres to register a stunning victory in the women's 200 metres final at the XVIII Commonwealth Games yesterday.
The Manchester High graduate, better known as a 100m sprinter, clocked 22.59 to win her first major individual gold. Omar Brown also won the men's 200m to claim his first big title. The two became only the second Jamaicans, after Donald Quarrie and Merlene Ottey, to win Commonweath Games 200m gold medals.
Quarrie who is here in Melbourne as one of Jamaica's coaches, did it twice in 1970 and 1974 while Ottey took the title in 1982 and 1990.
Simpson was elated with her victory.
THANK YOU COACH
"I have to really thank my coach Stephen Francis a lot - he has been there for me - and to thank God. I am just happy that I could come here. I am happy with my performance and I am really looking forward to the rest of the season," Simpson said.
Simpson whose coach, Francis, said a week ago that she was in condition to run 22.5, declared that she had her sights on victory despite the presence of the outstanding Campbell.
"I was very confident going into the race," the University of Technology student said.
Campbell offered no excuses.
"It's early. I have the entire season ahead of me," she said.
Campbell, who flew into Melbourne only last Friday several days after Simpson, refused to give that as an excuse.
SATISFIED
"I am not one to make excuses. I am satisfied with the way I performed today," she said.
South Africa's Geraldine Pillay ran on to snatch third in 22.92 while Jamaica's Sheri-Ann Brooks, the 100m gold medallist, was fifth in 23.07.
Brown, an outstanding high school sprinter who has been plagued by injury, appears ready to fulfil his potential after outleaning Stephan Buckland of Mauritius.
"I am just happy that I could come out here and run all the rounds healthy and to win the gold medal."
The Arkanas University student who won in 20.47, the same time awarded to Buckland, was very focused for the event.
"I made sure I got a good start." she said .
MEDAL TABLE
| Nation | | G | | S | | | B | Total |
| Australia | 65 | 55 | 47 | 167 |
| England | 24 | 32 | 23 | 79 |
| India | 19 | 12 | | | 7 | 38 |
| Canada | 16 | 24 | 23 | 63 |
| South Africa | 11 | | 8 | 11 | 30 |
| Scotland | 10 | | 7 | 10 | 27 |
| JAMAICA | | 7 | | 3 | | | 6 | 16 |
| New Zealand | | 4 | | 7 | 13 | 24 |
| Malaysia | | 3 | | 4 | | | 7 | 14 |
| Kenya | | 3 | | 3 | | | 2 | 8 |
| Wales | | 3 | | 2 | | | 7 | 12 |
| Nigeria | | 2 | | 4 | | | 3 | 9 |
| Ghana | | 2 | | 0 | | | 0 | 2 |
| Singapore | | 1 | | 2 | | | 3 | 6 |
| Cyprus | | 1 | | 1 | | | 2 | 4 |
| PNG | | 1 | | 1 | | | 0 | 2 |
| Pakistan | | 1 | | 0 | | | 1 | 2 |
| Isle of Man | | 1 | | 0 | | | 1 | 2 |
| Uganda | | 1 | | 0 | | | 0 | 1 |
| Tanzania | | 1 | | 0 | | | 0 | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | | 1 | | 0 | | | 0 | 1 |
| Bahamas | | 0 | | 2 | | | 0 | 2 |
| Northern Ireland | | 0 | | 2 | | | 0 | 2 |
| Cameroon | | 0 | | 1 | | | 2 | 3 |
| Malta | | 0 | | 1 | | | 1 | 2 |
| Nauru | | 0 | | 1 | | | 1 | 2 |
| Mauritius | | 0 | | 1 | | 0 | 1 |
| Grenada | | 0 | | 1 | | 0 | 1 |
| Botswana | | 0 | | 1 | | | 0 | 1 |
| Bangladesh | | 0 | | 1 | | | 0 | 1 |
| T&T | | 0 | | 0 | | | 3 | 3 |
| Fiji | | 0 | | 0 | | | 1 | 1 |
| Namibia | | 0 | | 0 | | | 1 | 1 |
| Seychelles | | 0 | | 0 | | | 1 | 1 |
