Veronica Campbell made history by becoming the first Jamaican athlete in history to take the world 100m title tonight after edging defending champion Lauryn Williams of the USA in a dramatic photo finish.
It was also some night for Lance Brauman, the coach of Campbell and the men’s 100m winner Tyson Gay, who is spending his last night in a federal prison in Texarkana, Texas, where he has been for more than nine months after being found guilty of embezzlement, theft and mail fraud charges.
Amid three minutes of confusion, after the automatic scoring system malfunctioned, Campbell was eventually given the nod ahead of Williams although both were given identical times of 11.01.
Carmelia Jeter of the USA was awarded bronze in a personal best of 11.02. Pre-race favourite Torri Edwards suffered a total meltdown, finishing fourth in 11.05.
Victory was rich reward for Campbell, who having won the 2004 Olympic 200m title, has been desperately seeking a global 100m crown.
“I was very confident – even when we did not know the result of the photo finish – because I know I have got excellent top end speed and a strong finish,” said Campbell. “Besides, I have been working a lot of my start and improved it strongly. This medal means a lot to me and then title is important for my career. The title of World Champion was missing in my collection.”
Williams was satisfied with silver after suffering a difficult year.
“It’s been a long hard road this year with a lot of ups and downs,” she explained. “So, knowing where I came from, I’m proud I could be part of the photo finish. If I realised we were so close, I wouldn’t have leaned so early and run one or two more steps instead.”
Jeter’s bronze was perhaps an even greater surprise than Edwards’ disappointing run. The Larry Wade coached athlete was ranked not even in the world’s top 140 last year and this year has improved from 11.48 to her world final time of 11.02.
“It is so good, I want to kiss someone,” remarked an elated Jeter.
The two favoured athletes were drawn side by side with Edwards in lane six and Campbell in lane seven. However it was Williams who made the superior start and by 60m she had established a clear advantage. Edwards simply crumbled under the pressure. Tension oozed from her body as her natural rhythm evaporated and her challenge for gold withered.
Williams, who had caused a major surprise when winning the world title in Helsinki two years ago, looked set to retain her title against the odds after struggling to impress through the rounds.
But world leader Campbell, with her distinctive wide-arm action, made a desperate lunge for the line as Jeter in lane eight also made a late challenge for gold.
The race was too close to call and as the crowd held its breath for the outcome Edwards, who had appeared fourth to the naked eye, and on the television replays, was awarded the victory on the automatic timing screen with a time of 11.01. Utter confusion reigned. Williams was then given the same time but the athletes looked mystified at the outcome.
Then the automatic timing screen at both ends of the stadium went blank and confusion was replaced by an element of frustration. The matter was not helped by the fact that the media hoards were given the correct result on their monitors before the athletes.
After what seemed like an age, the board flickered back to life to finally reveal the true story: Campbell gold, Williams silver and Jeter bronze, with Edwards, who had looked imperious through the rounds, only fourth.
Campbell raised an arm in triumph and Jamaica, home to such a proud array of world-class sprinters, could finally celebrate its first World 100m champion. It mattered not one jot that Campbell had recorded the slowest ever gold medal winning time in the 24-year history of the championships.
Osaka 2007 News Team/sl
