Veronica Campbell-Brown (File Photo) - Aiming for 100m gold in Beijing

CARSON, California, CMC – Jamaica’s Olympic 200-metre champion Veronica Campbell-Brown wants to improve her start as she continues her build-up for the Beijing Olympics.

 

Campbell-Brown, who turned 26 years old last week Thursday, won over 100 metres in very hot conditions at the Adidas Track Classic on Sunday.

 

She dismissed a quality field to land the women’s 100 metres in 11.14 seconds -- against 0.9 metres per second negative wind -- and identified being a little sluggish in her starts as a weakness as she looks ahead to the August 8-24 Olympics in Beijing.

 

"I was hoping to run faster but a win is a win. I think I have a few little things to work on, especially my start,” she told reporters.

 

In a tight finish, Campbell-Brown edged American 2005 world champion Lauryn Williams (11.15) and Jamaican Kerron Stewart (11.16) with the impressive American 200-metre World Champion Allyson Felix pushed back to fourth in 11.21.

 

“It was a great race. I'm glad I executed,” Campbell-Brown added.

 

Campbell-Brown, who won the 100-metre title at the Osaka World Championship last year, is the defending Olympic 200-metre champion and she targets the 100-metre gold in Beijing as her main goal this summer.

 

"My whole year is built around Beijing where I'm really looking forward to competing. I have won all the global titles and the only one missing right now is the Olympic 100 metres,” she said.

 

There was another Jamaican winner at the Adidas Classic, with Novlene Williams capturing the women’s 400 metres in 50.38 seconds, topping American Mary Wineberg (50.41) and Jamaican Shereefa Lloyd (50.93).

 

Grenadians Neisha Bernard-Thomas and Patricia Sylvester had prominent showings, grabbing runner-up spots in their events.

 

Thomas clocked two minutes 02.60 seconds behind American Erin Donohue (2:02.04) in the women’s 800 metres and Sylvester (6.45 metres) was second to American Grace Upshaw (6.68m) in the women’s long jump.

 

Bahamians Derrick Atkins and Chris Brown collected third place finishes in their events.

 

World Champion Tyson Gay won the men’s 100 metres in 10.05 seconds ahead of fellow American Darvis Patton (10.06) with Atkins third in 10.16.

 

Brown ran 44.94 behind American Jeremy Wariner (44.42) and Canada’s Tyler Christopher (44.71) in the men’s 400 metres.

 

SELECTED RESULTS ADIDAS CLASSIC

 

WOMEN

1 Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) 11.14 seconds

2 Lauryn Williams (USA) 11.15

3 Kerron Stewart (JAM) 11.16

4th Allyson Felix (USA) 11.21

 

200 metres

1 Muna Lee (USA) 22.30

2 Carmelita Jeter (USA) 22.47

3 Marshevet Hooker (USA) 22.49

8th Sherry Fletcher (GRN) 23.71

 

400 metres

1 Novlene Williams (JAM) 50.38

2 Mary Wineberg (USA) 50.41

3 Shereefa Lloyd (JAM) 50.93

7th Sonita Sutherland (JAM) 52.03

 

800 metres

1 Erin Donohue (USA) 2:02.04

2 Neisha Bernard-Thomas (GRN) 2:02.60

3 Kameisha Bennett-Martin 2:02.94

 

100m Hurdles

1 Joanna Hayes (USA) 12.64

2 Candice Davis (USA) 12.71

3 Nichole Denby (USA) 1.72

4th Vonette Dixon (JAM) 12.75

7th Lacena Golding-Clarke (JAM) 13.08

 

Long Jump

1 Grace Upshaw (USA) 6.68 metres

2 Patricia Sylvester (GRN) 6.45

3 Jenny Adams (USA) 6.39

5th Jackie Edwards (BAH) 6.29

 

MEN

 

100 metres

1 Tyson Gay (USA) 10.05 seconds

2 Darvis Patton (USA) 10.06

3 Derrick Atkins (BAH) 10.16

FS Daniel Bailey (ANT)

 

400 metres

1 Jeremy Wariner (USA) 44.42

2 Tyler Christopher (CAN) 44.71

3 Chris Brown (BAH) 44.94

5th Ricardo Chambers (JAM) 45.29

7th Michael Blackwood *JAM) 45.78

 

400m Hurdles

1 Bershawn Jackson (USA) 48.94

2 Brandon Jackson (USA) 49.62

3 Michael Tinsley (USA) 49.68

 

CMC lw/08