For Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB), the two-day flight cancellations problem she experienced in getting to New York for the Millrose Games last night was worth it. Having missed the pre-meet press conference Thursday, VCB captured the women’s 60m dash in fine style, clocking 7.11 seconds in the process. The reigning Olympic 200m champion and five-time Olympic medalist disposed of three Americans and two of her compatriots, in what organizers billed a USA-Jamaica challenge.
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Campbell-Brown: "I'm always mentally prepared."
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Carter: "I felt confident out there."
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Quow: "I'm trying to change my race strategy."
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Veronica Campbell-Brown, 4th from left, leads home her rivals at Madison Square Garden in New York Friday night.
DPalmer/TrackLife photos
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“I love competing in New York and I’m happy that I was able to get here, considering the circumstances with the weather,” she said after the race. “It is one of my favorite places…the fans are just great.”
In answering questions about her execution of the race, VCB said it was ok, noting that it’s early season and there’s always room for improvement. “It’s hard for one to say they have a perfect race, especially the 100m. I’ll just analyze this race and move on to my next races.”
The [US-Jamaica] competition is great; It was fun tonight she said as she side-stepped questions about whether Jamaica is the sprint capital. “What do you think?” she shot back laughing. “A lot of people tend to think so. When it comes to sprinting between Jamaica and the US, over the last few years, Jamaica has been doing very well. So I’ll leave that question open and one can make their own decision.”
And then, the quietly fierce competitor – who left her long-time mentor Lance Braumann after the 2009 season and Anthony Carpenter in October – flatly refused to talk about her coaching situation: “At this time I don’t want to really talk about that situation. When the time is right I’ll speak about that.” However, she pointed out that she’s always mentally prepared as she believes track and field is about 90% mental and if you’re mentally weak it’s going to be hard to win. Therefore, she said, to go on the track unprepared mentally makes no sense.
She further said she was looking forward to the outdoor season when there’ll be great races and good competition and hoped she stays healthy to train in order to be ready at the right time.
Although VCB doesn't know yet if she’ll compete in Diamond League meets this year, she will focus on preparing for the Jamaican Trials and the World Championships, where she plans to run both sprint events.
In the men's edition of VCB’s race, her countryman, 2008 Olympic sprint relay gold medalist Nesta Carter, like her, beat three Americans and three of his compatriots in the challenge, and posted a world-leading 6.52 seconds. Carter caused laughter with his reaction to learning that the US had won the challenge overall based on points awarded to each of the 12 competitors in both 60m races that pitted Jamaicans against Americans.
“Oh crap!” he exclaimed, after stating that he was surprised to hear about the Millrose Jamaica-US sprint rivalry when he arrived for the Games. Not that prior knowledge would have changed anything, for although he and VCB had victories, the other Jamaicans didn’t score as many points as their US rivals.
The cool and confident sprinter, who has run indoors only a few times, told the press: “I think it was a good race overall. I stumbled at the start. Then at the end I was a bit confused by this line…and then to run into the back…, I’m not used to that so I was putting on the brakes pretty early. I felt confident out there. Carter also welcomes rivalry. “When you have a rivalry, you’re going to have a good performance,” he said.
Also posting a win for the Caribbean was Trinidad’s quarter miler Renny Quow in the Mel Sheppard 600-yard run, winning in 1:11.82. This was Quow’s second such Millrose win. He first triumphed there in 2009 (1:11.32).
The 2009 Worlds bronze medalist is further motivated by the rise of others such as Jamaica’s Jermaine Gonzales. “It’s a lot of motivation,” said the breathless Quow after the race. “I just have to get running fast.” He’s trying to change his race strategy as his goal is to win a medal at the World Championships.
Earlier, Jamaica’s sprint hurdler Vonette Dixon captured the 60m hurdles over a field that included Canada’s stalwart Perdita Felcien and rising US star Queen Harrison.
Results
Women's 60m challenge
1. VCB (Jam) 7.11
2. Lauryn Williams (US), 7.22
3. Lisa Barber (US), 7.23
4. Lisa’s twin Miki, 7.30
5. Trisha-Ann Hawthorne (Jam), 7.31
6. Vonette Dixon (Jam), 7.63
Men's 60m challenge
1. Nesta Carter, (Jam), 6.52
2. Mike Rodgers, (USA), 6.56
3. Trell Kimmons (USA), 6.57
4. Lerone Clarke (Jam), 6.67
5. Ivory Williams (USA), 6.70
6. Oshane Bailey (Jam), 6.71
The Mel Sheppard 600-yard
1. Renny Quow (T&T), 1:11.82
2. Karjuan Williams (US), 1:12.23
3. Jamaal Torrance (US), 1:12.77
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Women’s 60m Hurdles
1, Vonette Dixon (Jam), 8.00.
2. Danielle Carruthers (US), 8.03
3. Perdita Felcien (Can), 8.05.
4. Queen Harrison (US), 8.19
5. Aleesha Barber (T&T), 8.
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