LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring 2008 Jamaican Olympic Gold medalist
Veronica Campbell-Brown upon the occasion of her designation for special
recognition

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those esteemed individuals who distinguish themselves through
outstanding achievements in worldwide athletic competition; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor 2008 Jamaican
Olympic Gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition; and
WHEREAS, The Jamaican Consulate is hosting a reception for Veronica
Campbell-Brown on Wednesday, January 28, 2009, at the New York City
College of Technology in Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Born May 15, 1982, Veronica Campbell-Brown is an interna-
tional track and field sprint athlete, competing for Jamaica; a five-
time Olympic medalist, she is the reigning Olympic 200m and World 100m
champion; at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she ran the 200 meters in 21.74
seconds, the seventh fastest time ever, and became the second woman in
history to win the Olympic 200 meters twice and successfully defend her
title, after Barbel Wockel of Germany did so at the 1976 and 1980 Olym-
pics; and
WHEREAS, During her junior career in 1999, Veronica Campbell-Brown won
two gold medals, the 100m and 4x100m at the inaugural IAAF World Youth
Championships, and the following year, she became the first female to
win the sprint double at the IAAF World Junior Championships; she won
the 100m in 11.12 seconds, the current championship record, and the 200m
in 22.87 seconds; at the 2000 Olympic Games, she ran the second leg on
the silver medal 4x100m relay team; and
WHEREAS, Veronica Campbell-Brown is the only female athlete to win
both the 100m and 200m sprints at the same World Youth Championship
event; and
WHEREAS, While in college, Veronica Campbell-Brown attended Barton
County Community College in Great Bend, Kansas, where she set several
records and won many titles including four national junior college
titles in the 60, 100 and 200 meter dashes both indoors and outdoors;
she also set the current record for Barton County in the outdoor 100 and
200 meter dashes; and
WHEREAS, Veronica Campbell-Brown also excelled in academics, earning
an Associates degree from Barton County in 2002 with a 3.8 grade aver-
age; she later went on to attend the University of Arkansas, where she
earned her Bachelor of Science degree and stood out as a sprint star in
a program dominated by long-distance runners; and
WHEREAS, At the 2004 Olympics, Veronica Campbell-Brown placed third in
the 100 meters and two days later won the 200 meters, beating out Ally-
son Felix of the United States; she later teamed up with Aleen Bailey,
Tanya Lawrence, and Sherone Simpson to win the 4x100meter relay race;
and
WHEREAS, In August of 2005, Veronica Campbell-Brown won the silver
medal in the 100 meters at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics as
well as another silver medal in the 4x100meter relay together with
Daniele Browning, Aleen Bailey and Sherone Simpson; and
WHEREAS, At the 2007 World Championships, Veronica Campbell-Brown won
three medals with a gold in the 100 meters, a silver in the 200 meters
and a silver in the 4x100meter relay; and
WHEREAS, At the 2008 Jamaican Olympic trials, Veronica Campbell-Brown
finished 4th in the 100m, thereby missing the qualifying requirement to
automatically make the Jamaican Olympic roster for that event; she

clocked 10.88 seconds in the final, which is the second fastest time
ever for a 4th place finish; she however bounced back to take the 200m
final in a personal best of 21.94 seconds; and
WHEREAS, On July 3, 2008, it was announced that Veronica Campbell-
Brown was denied a spot in the 100 meters in Beijing, even though she is
the reigning World Champion; therefore, she only competed in the 200m
and the 4x100 relay at the Olympic Games; at the opening ceremony of the
2008 Olympics, Veronica Campbell-Brown carried the Jamaican flag during
the Athletes' Parade; she successfully defended her Olympic 200m title
in a new personal best time of 21.74 seconds, a time which puts her
seventh on the all-time world list; and
WHEREAS, At the end of the 2008 season, Veronica Campbell-Brown was
selected by TRACK AND FIELD NEWS as the top 200-meter runner in the
world as well as the fourth best in the 100-meters following three other
fellow Jamaicans; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband, Omar, and her
parents, Cecil and Pamella, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of
her life and rejoice in her achievements; and
WHEREAS, A gifted athlete, Veronica Campbell-Brown has become a role
model in society as well as the sport of track and field; her character
and achievements stand as a sterling example and inspiration to all who
would aspire to success; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor 2008 Jamaican Olympic Gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown upon
the occasion of her designation for special recognition; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to 2008 Jamaican Olympic Gold medalist Veronica Campbell-Brown.