Campbell-Brown wins Olympic bronze at 100m

FAYETTEVILLE – Veronica Campbell-Brown added to her career medal collection Saturday with a third-place finish in the finals of the women’s 100 meters at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. The former Razorback standout charged down the track at Olympic Stadium in a season-best time of 10.81 to secure the bronze medal. In other action on day two of the track and field competition, Regina George finished 11th in the semifinal round of the 400 meters and Tina Sutej tied for 19th in the qualifying round of the pole vault.

With her performance in Saturday’s 100-meter final, Campbell-Brown clinched her sixth career Olympic medal and matched her bronze showing in the event at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Fellow Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won the 100-meter title in 10.75 while Team USA member Carmelita Jeter finished second in 10.78. Earlier in the day, Campbell-Brown posted a time of 10.89 in the semifinal to advance to the title race.

Campbell-Brown is scheduled to return to the track Monday for the first round of the 200 meters. She is the two-time defending Olympic champion in the event. She will also carry relay responsibilities for Jamaica in the 4x100-meter relay. That competition begins Thursday.

Running in heat two of the semifinal round, George ran to a time of 51.35 to finish fifth in the heat and 11th overall in the 400 meters. She finished three spots out of advancing to Sunday’s final. George now has 10 sub-52 performances at 400 meters, all of which have come since the SEC Championships in May. George is also part of Nigeria’s 4x400-meter relay. Qualifying for the mile relay will begin Friday with the final scheduled for the following day.

In the first event of the day for the Razorback contingent in London, Sutej finished tied for 19th place in the qualifying round of the pole vault. The two-time NCAA champion finished the competition with a final clearance of 4.25m/13-11.25. Sutej was making her Olympic debut.

Ivanique Kemp will begin her Olympic experience Monday as a representative of the Bahamas in the opening round of the 100-meter hurdles. To follow Arkansas’ progress in London, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter or visit the 2012 Olympic Central page at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Saturday Results
100 Meters (final)
3. Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) – 10.81

100 Meters (semifinal)
3. Veronica Campbell-Brown (JAM) – 10.89Q

400 Meters (semifinal)
11. Regina George (NGR) – 51.35

Pole Vault (qualifying)
19. Tina Sutej (SLO) – 4.25m/13-11.25

Q – qualified for next round