Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer
Veronica Campbell will be seeking more Olympic glory in Beijing in August. - file
los angeles, california:
Reigning Olympic 200m champion Veronica Campbell-Brown hinted that the Olympic 100m gold and capturing Merlene Ottey's national 100m and 200m records are the only missing pieces of her puzzle still to be solved.
However, while she is determined to achieve both, Campbell-Brown made it clear she would not allow the records to become a distraction for her Olympic dream - winning 100m gold in Beijing this summer.
"I rather win a gold medal than break the national records because when I set the records, further down the line somebody is going to break them, but by having Olympic gold no one can take that away from you," explained Campbell-Brown.
Ottey won 20 plus medals at the Olympics, World Championships and other major meets, but has literally ended her career without a prized Olympic gold medal.
So far, Campbell-Brown in her career, has won gold at all the world level competitions organised by the IAAF, The World Youth (1999), World Junior (2000) and World Championships (2007).
Biggest accomplishment
Campbell-Brown's biggest accomplishment, however, came at the Olympic Games in 2004 in Athens, where she stormed home to take the gold in the women's 200m in a personal best 22.05 seconds. She also added the 100m bronze and the 4x100m gold to her collection at the same event.
However, Campbell-Brown believes that if she can improve on her personal bests of 10.85 (100m) and 22.05 (200m), the national records may come her way.
"If I can PR that would be great, but 10.7 would be even greater," she added while saying for the 200m "I am looking for anything between 21.9 - 21.7 ... I would be satisfied with that ... I just need to go under 22 seconds and that would be great".
Ottey, the world's fourth fastest woman ever, has the national records of 10.76 in the 100m, the 13th best time ever, and 21.64 in the 200m, only bettered by Americans Florence Griffiths-Joyner (21.34, 21.56) and Marion Jones (21.62).
Records can come later
"It would be good to break the national records. I have them in the back of my head to do it, but right now I feel like winning the Olympic is the ideal accomplishment, because the national records can come later," added the many-time national sprint double champion.
She said if she doesn't break the national records, "I would not be disappointed, but it's something I would want to do."
As for the National Champion-ships next month, the women's 100m is expected to be hot, as, for the first time in recent history, Jamaica have four women running sub-10. Simone Facey (10.95) and Kerron Stewart (10.96) broke 11 seconds for the first time this season, while Sherone Simpson (10.82) and Campbell-Brown, who are yet to break that barrier this season, should set up a sizzling contest.
However, Campbell-Brown said winning at the trials is not that important, as making the team is her first priority. The top three in each event, providing they achieve the qualifying standards, are normally selected for the Olympics.
Main aim
"My aim is just to go out and make the team and get ready for Beijing and that's what I am doing, just working hard for trials," she told STAR Sports in a recent interview.
"It doesn't matter how fast I run at trials, making the team is what really matters. Everybody will remember the person who wins the gold at the Olympics, so that's what I am working towards," added the former Vere Technical student.
Campbell-Brown also dismissed rumours of a rivalry between herself and Simpson.
"I wouldn't say so (that there's a rivalry). We are just competing. We are heading for the same thing - to win, so it's competition, that's all I see it as."
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