- Reuters
Jamaica's Juliet Campbell celebrates after winning the 200 metre final at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Lisbon yesterday. Campbell clocked 22.64 to win the gold.HOT FAVOURITE Juliet Campbell lived up to expectations yesterday when she struck gold in the women's 200 metres final.
The victory brought Jamaica's medal haul to two at the eighth IAAF World Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lisbon, Portugal.
Campbell running from lane five, stopped the clocks in a world-leading 22.64 seconds - beating her nearest rival by 32 hundredths of a second. The indoor record is 21.87 by fellow countrywoman Merlene Ottey in Lievin, France in 1993.
The former St. Jago High star quarter-miler, who turns 31 in a week's time, bettered her seasonal best of 22.72, posted in her victorious semi-final on Friday.
A part-time model, Campbell defeated American Latasha Jenkins who ran a personal indoor best of 22.96, and Natalya Vinogradova-Safronnikova of Belarus, 23.17.
Jamaica's other medal came from Michelle Freeman who claimed silver in the women's 60m hurdles final on Friday.
However, Jamaica missed out on another medal opportunity over the half-lap distance yesterday, when Christopher Williams failed to medal.
Running from lane two, Williams crossed the finish line in a relatively slow 21.12. American Shawn Crawford, the second fastest qualifier, won in 20.63 seconds.
Meanwhile, Sandie Richards qualified for today's 400m final after winning her semi-final in 51.98 seconds - the fourth fastest qualifying time. The 1993 World Indoor champion defeated Russia's Olesya Zykina (52.18) and American Monique Hennagan (52.43). Russian Olga Kotlyarova won the second semi-final in 51.63.
Danny McFarlane ran a personal best 46.68 in taking semi-final two of the men's equivalent, beating Briton Mark Hylton (46.87) and American James Davis (46.90). Charmaine Howell failed to make the women's 800m final after placing sixth and last in the second semi-final in 2:09.13.
Jamaica's 1600-metres relay team of Michael McDonald, Clarke, Michael Blackwood and Gregory Haughton finished second in 3:08.29 to qualify for today's final. Russia won the heat in 3:08.14.
