Beijing: Jamaican sprint champion Veronica Campbell-Brown veered out of her lane and into the one next to her after she rounded the turn in her 200m heat.
Campbell-Brown would only say she ‘had a headache’ after the race, during which she ended up in British runner Margaret Adeoye’s lane.
Remarkably, She was not disqualified for veering from Lane 5 to Lane 6 because she didn’t impede Adeoye.
“I was like, ‘Was that me or was that her?’” said Adeoye, who finished third in the heat to advance. “It helped me get to the finish line.”
Campbell-Brown, the woman known simply as “VCB” back on the island, grimaced as she realized she was changing lanes.
It could have cost her dearly. She’s a two-time Olympic gold medalist in the event, and this might be her last, best chance at a second world title.
Two of the best runners at the distance — Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Allyson Felix- — are sitting this one out.
Asked to explain her meandering ways, Campbell-Brown made a quick right turn to head to the practice track.
She’ll return Thursday in the semi-finals, where the running will get more serious.
