It's all bronze for Campbell
ATHENS, Greece – Former University of Arkansas Lady Razorback Veronica Campbell scorched the Olympic Stadium track to capture the bronze medal in the 100-meter dash at the games of the XXVIII Olympiad in Athens, Greece on Saturday.
Campbell entered the finals of the 100 after a career best time of 10.93 during semifinal action which placed her second overall and in a prime lane for the finals race. Getting off to another tremendous start, Campbell clocked her second fastest 100-meter time ever in the finals at 10.97 to earn the bronze for her native Jamaica.
“This couldn’t have happened to a better person,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “This is an unbelievable feat for Veronica and for the University of Arkansas. She has an incredible work ethic and was really ready heading into the games. For her to win the bronze in the 100, which is not her best event, is just a tribute to her abilities and the hours upon hours of training she has put in.”
The bronze medal for Campbell makes her the first Lady Razorback to ever capture a piece of Olympic hardware following her days as an Arkansas athlete. Her bronze adds to the silver which she earned as a part of Jamaica’s 4×100-meter relay team at the Sydney Games in 2000 before she began her higher education in the U.S. It is also the first medal for a University of Arkansas athlete since Mike Conley won gold in the triple jump at the 1992 games in Barcelona.
The 100-meter finals saw Yuliya Nesterenko of Belarus take the gold medal while the U.S.’s Lauryn Williams earned the silver. Campbell was one of three Jamaicans in the fastest woman in the world contest, beating country-women Aleen Bailey and Sherone Simpson for the bronze.
The conclusion of the 100-meter dash does not end Campbell’s competition at the games. She still has the 200 meters and 4×100-meter relay left on her busy schedule.
In other Olympic action, former Lady Razorback Nicole Teter looked strong in her section of the 800-meter run, but unfortunately just missed qualifying for the finals after she crossed the line fourth in her heat at 1:59.50. Just 0.29 seconds away from a trip to the finals, Teter was fourth in her heat of the semis, missing the automatic cut by one second. The top two from each section advanced to the finals with the next two fastest marks also making the cut.
Sunday’s Olympic track and field action showcases former Lady Razorback Deena (Drossin) Kastor as she tackles the grueling 26-mile marathon. One of the top marathon runners in the world, Kastor is projected as a potential medalist in the event.
