Veronica Campbell
Merrick Andrews, Staff Reporter
THE PARISH of Trelawny has given "birth" to another rising star, Veronica Campbell, a young lady whom many track and field experts believe may take the place of her more senior counterparts on this year's Olympic team to Sydney, Australia.
This became evident at the CAC Junior Championships which are taking place in San Juan, Puerto Rico where the 18-year-old clocked an amazing 11.18 seconds to break the Under-20 record in the 100 metres final.
Located in the county of Cornwall and popularly known as the Cockpit Country, Trelawny has produced talented athletes such as Ben Johnson the former world 100m record holder who was banned for doping offences in 1988, Michael Green, the Olympic finalist and 1994 Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the 100m, and the Turner sisters (Inez, Janice, Evette) who have featured in local long and middle distance running.
Coached by Dwayne Jarrett, this year's Coach of the Year awardee, Campbell stamped her class at the Carifta Games in St. George's, Grenada and the National Junior Trials earlier this year.
Campbell was awarded the Austin Sealy award for winning the Under-20 200m final in a record 23.05 seconds. Her time of 23.05 is the fastest junior time in the world to date. At the same meet she was second in the 100m in 11.41 behind teammate Nadine Palmer (11.37).
At the National Junior Trials, Campbell recorded a very swift 11.33 to win the Under-20 100m title.
In addition to those performances this year, she was the Class 1 double sprint champion at the Boys' and Girls' Championships with times of 11.62 and 23.49.
"Hard work, determination, dedication and her coach (Jarrett)," Campbell said, were the key factors that have contributed to her success.
Running is in the blood of the Campbell family. According to Veronica, her father, Cecil, and her two brothers, Delroy and Errol, were also runners.
"From when I was growing up, I always liked running and I always admired Merlene Ottey," said Campbell.
While attending Troy All-Age School, Campbell said she participated at the school's Sports Day and was selected to represent her parish at the Blue Cross/JTA Athletics Championships.
She first participated in the championships in 1995 where she won silver in the 100m. The following year, she won the sprint double and in addition she was named the Champion Girl athlete of the meet.
Her success at the Parish Championships won her a track scholarship to Vere Technical where her running career started to blossom.
However, despite her strongly-built stature, especially below the hips, Campbell's main fault was her running form and technique.
"Veronica has come a far way in terms of her running technique. She ran with her bottom (buttocks) cocked and her hair high," coach Jarrett said.
Campbell's first attempt at doing well at Girls' Champs' was not successful as she was affected by a knee and hip injury at the 1997 edition.
Hard sessions of training and working on her technique started to show in 1998 when she won her first gold medal in the class 2 4x100m relay (46.55) at Girls' Champs' and made her first national team.
She also finished third in the 100m final in 12.25 behind winner and teammate Aileen Bailey (11.68), who now in her senior age, has to play second fiddle to Campbell.
Campbell failed to make the Carifta team that same year (1998), but was able to make the CAC junior squad to Grand Cayman, where she won the Under-17 title in 11.72 seconds.
At last year's newly combined Boys' and Girls' Championships, Campbell was runner-up in both the class 2 100m (11.65) and the 200m (23.90) behind St. Jago's Melaine Walker who had times of 11.63 and a record 23.71. However, on the regional and international junior scene she was to steal the spotlight.
She finished third in the 200m at the Carifta Games held in Martinique and second as part of the 4x100m relay team at the Pan Am Junior Games in Tampa, Florida.
The same year she clocked 11.49 to capture the 100m title at the inaugural World Youth Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, for athletes under the age of 18.
Campbell who lives in Warlop District in Trewlany and boards at Vere Technical, said the 100m is her best event.
"In the 200m I am not a good corner runner. I always get beaten on the corner that's why I prefer the 100m," she said. "In the 100m I have a slow start but I always have a fast finish,"
"My aim this year is to better my times at the CAC Games and the National Senior Trials. I would also like to make the Olympic team's 4x100m relay. I want to go to the Olympic Games - even as a spectator," she said.
Campbell, who has five CXC subjects this year: Office Procedure, Social Studies, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business and English Language, says she is aiming for a career in accounting after athletics.
"I want to become an accountant teacher in the future. For athletics, I would like to become a professional athlete and to help other people who cannot afford it," she said.
Coach Jarrett said: "If Campbell gets a good start and her technique right, she may well run below 11.2."
He also said her chances of making the Olympic team were "great", if she continued to maintain her fitness and health.
