200m shocker! Campbell blames surprise run on a 'stupid mistake'

Elton Tucker, Assistant Editor - Sport

HELSINKI, Finland:

YESTERDAY'S WOMEN'S 200 metres final at the 10th IAAF World Championships in Helsinki produced a real shocker.

Jamaica's Veronica Campbell, Olympic champion less than a year ago in Athens and a big favourite for a top three place here, sensationally finished out of the medals in the final which was run in cool conditions and on the first dry track for over three days.

Campbell, who last year led the way in all her rounds at the Olympics, appeared to pay the price for taking things too easy in the early rounds and placed fourth in 22.38. She drew lane seven for the final and with all her main rivals behind, the task of defeating her rivals here was always going to be difficult.

TURNED THE TABLES

Gold went to her arch rival, Allyson Felix of the United States, who turned the tables on Campbell in no uncertain manner after finishing runner-up in Athens. Felix won in 22.16 seconds from compatriot Rachelle Boone-Smith, 22.31. The same time was awarded to bronze medallist Christine Arron of France.

An obviously disappointed Campbell had some problems explaining her fourth place finish but made no excuses.

"I ran a perfect turn but coming off the turn something happened, I do not know why I ended up in the wrong lane. That was a stupid mistake which threw my whole rhythm completely off."

She said one of her hamstring muscles is still tight.

"My physiotherpist has been working on my hamstring but I am not going to use that as an excuse for my performance here today. These things happen, I am strong, I am a warrior and I am just going to put this behind and get ready for 2006."

Campbell did not think that being drawn in lane seven was a decisive factor in the outcome of the race.

"It was not a bad thing to get lane seven. I think that's a good lane if you can run the curve well and then hold on," she said.

Felix, who came from behind to overhaul Campbell and Arron, said she was a bit concerned at the top of the straight.

A LITTLE WORRIED

"Coming off the curve I was a little bit worried because I realised that Christine and Veronica had started very fast," she said. "But I tried to give it all I had and I knew that I usually am strong in the end."

She expects Campbell to rebound.

"I think that from now on there will be more exciting races. We are going to push each other to fast times and the crowd has a lot to look forward to," she said.

Jamaica also came up empty-handed in two other finals.

Maurice Wignall failed to reproduce Thursday's semi-final form and finished seventh in 13.47 in the men's 110m hurdles final.

In a very close finish for the medals gold went to Frenchman Ladji Doucoure in 13.07 from Olympic champion Xiang Liu of China, 13.08. American Allen Johnson who was seeking his fifth gold medal in the event ended up third in 13.10.

Wignall said he ran a horrible final but his season had not gone smoothly.

"I had a hamstring injury and was not able to do as much speed work as I would have wanted," Wignall said.

Cramps in the opening 200 metres put paid to the chances of Brandon Simpson in the men's 400m final, won in a world leading 43.93 seconds by Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner of the United States.

Andrew Rock, also of the United States, was second in a personal best 44.35, while Canada's Tyler Christopher ran a national record 44.44 for the bronze.

Simpson placed sixth in 45.01.

"I had a cramp going up to the first 200m mark and I really actually feel blessed that I was able to finish," said Simpson.

He added: "I was actually grimacing and hoping I did not tear my calf. By the time I left the 200m I told myself I would try harder and I pushed and came back as far as I could and I think I did really well based upon my first 200m time."

Simpson is expected to run next in the men's 4x400m final tomorrow if Jamaica make it through today's semi-final heats. He thinks the team has a good chance to medal.

He said the United States will be very strong but Jamaica had a strong chance for a medal.

"I really do not see any other team giving us too much competition but as I said before it is all in God's hands."