VCB wants memorable Oslo debut

OSLO, Norway:

Sprint queen Veronica Campbell-Brown is quietly confident that she can run a sub-11-seconds 100m at Oslo's ExxonMobil Bislett Games today.

The seven-time Olympic medallist is of the opinion that she can emulate compatriot Kerron Stewart, who achieved the feat in 2009 with a time of 10.99 seconds.

Campbell-Brown, 33, was speaking just ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Bislett Games, which makes up a leg of the invitational IAAF Diamond League series, in Norway's capital city.

While she may not be competing in her favoured 200m, the Trelawny-born athlete feels that her form and weather conditions favour a sub-11 time as she makes her debut in Oslo.

"I'm honoured to be in Oslo; it has been a long time coming," she told The Gleaner.

"I'm excited to be here and the weather promises to be good and I'm hoping to run my best 100m of the season tomorrow," added Campbell-Brown, who ran a season's best 11.04 seconds in Brazil in April.

"Race execution is the key to the 100m and I'm looking forward to it."

Campbell-Brown, no matter the result and time in Oslo, will immediately turn her attention to the upcoming Jamaican trials, in which she hopes to compete in both sprint events.

Up to the challenge

Only the second woman in history to win two consecutive Olympic 200m events in Athens (2004) and Beijing (2008), Campbell-Brown is fully aware of the task.

"Yes, I'm looking to double at the Jamaican trials. It will be difficult, but I'm hopeful that I can qualify in both events.

"At this time, it is all about constantly working on my technique. I'm hard to be comfortable when it comes to track and field. It is my passion and I always want to do more.

"So right now, I'll just continue to work hard. Hopefully, as the season goes on, I can see the results that I think that I am capable of."

Campbell-Brown's CV also includes gold medals at the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and World Indoor Championships. But you would write her off at your peril. She was adamant that she still has so much more to achieve.

"In everything that you do, if you do not have expectations for yourself, it is pointless.

"I'm confident in my ability to do well and I'm motivated to constantly do well because I truly believe that I still have a lot more to offer the sport."