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27, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Release by Mike Marzolf Photo available upon request |
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Campbell,
Bailey win gold in 4x1; McDonald to receive gold as well Jamaica and the United States were to battle it out for the gold but USA had troubles during the 2nd exchange and did not complete it before leaving the zone. That ended the race for the Americans with a disqualification. With the USA not around to finish, Jamaica dominated the rest of the field, winning in a new Jamaican national record time of 41.73. That was just off the Olympic record of 41.60. Runner-up went to Russia at 42.27 while France took the bronze in 42.34.
"My teammates trust me, that's what teammates are for,” Bailey said in a post race press conference. Bailey had been the subject of some debate for her handoffs. "This is by far the best Jamaican team ever. The youngest team member (Simpson) was very nervous at the start but she did a great job." Campbell’s efforts at the 2004 Summer Games perhaps puts her at the top of the female sprinting world. Campbell was the only woman to medal in both the 100m and 200m, winning the 200m. Then she added a 2nd gold in the sprints – a feat no other female sprinter matched during the XXVII Olympiad. -30- Check
out Barton County Track Online at www.bartonccc.edu/sports
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Veronica
Campbell capped off what will be a very memorable Olympics as she
ran the final leg of the Jamaican women’s 4x100m relay at
the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. That allowed her cross the finish
line in gold medal style yet again as she and her Jamaican teammates
won the event. Campbell, a 2002 graduate of Barton County Community
College, ends the XXVIII Olympiad with two gold medals and bronze
medal from her 3 events. In addition to Campbell, former Cougar
Aleen Bailey ran on the team while Beverly McDonald will also receive
a medal for running in the semifinal round.
Tanya
Lawrence led off for the Jamaica’s trailing the USA’s
Angela Williams at the 1st exchange. Down the backstretch Sherone
Simpson of Jamaica was gaining ground on Marion Jones of the USA
as the two were almost tied at the 2nd exchange. Simpson handoff
to Bailey was clean while Jones and Lauryn Williams had the trouble
for the USA. By the time Bailey gave way to Campbell for the final
leg, no one was near the Jamaican team. It is the first 4x100m gold
medal in Jamaican history. It was also the 1st Olympic medal for
Bailey. For McDonald, the gold will go with her silver from the
4x100m relay team in 2000.