Reigning Olympic champion Veronica Campbell produced a world-leading 21.94 seconds to win the women’s 200m at Jamaica’s Olympic track and field trials on Sunday.
Campbell, who took gold in Athens in 22.05, finished a disappointing fourth in the 100m on Saturday.
“I am very happy with my performance tonight,” Campbell said.
Campbell said Saturday’s 100m defeat motivated her to run her personal best in the 200m.
“Everything happens for a reason,” she said. “I knew I would have ran under 22 seconds tonight.”
“I am glad it happened tonight and if I can stay healthy, I would be in a good position to defend my Olympic title,” Campbell said.
She said she would like to run in the 100m in Beijing but didn’t know what her chances were. The top three in each final qualify for the Olympics and her forth place showing makes it difficult.
“I will definitely be running some good 100m leading into Olympic, but if it remain as it is, I will just focus on defending my 200m title,” she said.
Kerron Stewart, the women’s 100m champion finished second in the 200m in 21.99, also a personal best, while Sherone Simpson was third in 22.11.
On the men’s side, Usain Bolt ran 19.97 to beat Marvin Anderson (20.17) and Christopher Williams (20.20).
“Tonight’s race was just to qualify,” Bolt said.
“When I came off the curve I kept looking to see where I was, because I did not want to over do it,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the 400m Michael Blackwood and Rosemarie White were surprised winners. Blackwood ran 45.21 to beat pre-race favorites Ricardo Chambers and Sanjay Ayre, who both recorded 45.24.
In the women’s event, White, in her first year at the one-lap event, stopped the clock in 50.05, a big personal best. Favorites Novlene Williams-Mills (50.11) and Shericka Williams (50.33) were second and third respectively.
The women’s sprint hurdles went to Brigitte Foster-Hylton in 12.50 seconds. Delloreen Ennis-London was second in 12.57 and Vonette Dixon 12.71.
Kenia Sinclair won the women’s 800m in 2:01.50.
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