By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterSHOUTS OF joy erupted in Hayes, Clarendon, yesterday, where relatives, friends and mentors of Veronica Campbell celebrated her win in the finals of the 200 metres at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Campbell's mother, Pamela Bailey; brothers, Sean and David; a niece and a nephew clad in black, green and gold had travelled from their Spanish Town, St. Catherine home to the house of Neville Myton, a two-time Olympian who has been instrumental in Campbell's athletic development, and his wife Paulette to watch the race.
The front of the 'celebration house' was decorated in black, green and gold, with newspaper articles relating Campbell's performances, posted on the walls and doors.
A green and yellow flag of the Vere Technical High Veronica's alma mater draped over a section of the grill made a compelling prediction in just one word 'Winner'. But Campbell's mother and the few others who congregated at the house were equally confident of a gold medal performance.
"I know she is going to win,"Mrs. Bailey told The Gleaner before the race.
And Marsha Latchman, an accounts teacher at Vere Technical High School who taught Campbell for two years had proclaimed: "It will be nothing less than a gold."
Twenty minutes before the race, the excitement level at the house was more than pulsating, but in the last few seconds before, the consistent ringing of cellular phones meant a disturbance of the peace, as everyone was now glued to either of the two television sets strategically placed inside the house.
ON THEIR FEET
Mrs. Bailey perched uneasily on the edge of her seat while Mr. Myton stood with his eyes glued to the television screen and Sharnetter Stewart, a former schoolmate, sat nervously with a cushion in her hand.
But when the race started all rose to their feet. Cheers roared and shouts of 'gwaan, gwaan' resonated throughout the building.
Just over 22 seconds later, the race was over, and the real excitement began in recognition of Campbell's golden run. Pot covers were banged together, cellular phones rang, alcoholic beverages flowed and a wave of pride filled the atmosphere as the house reverberated with cheers.
Campbell's mother could not hold back the tears. "Weeping is rejoicing and rejoicing come," she told reporters.
Mr. Myton could hardly voice his satisfaction. "It's just, just... fabulous," he said stuttering, adding that in several conversations with Campbell, she had expressed confidence that she would win the race.
