Jamaica goes 4-for-4 in individual Olympic sprints

BEIJING (AP) The Jamaican national anthem has become as popular at the Bird's Nest as reggae music is back on the island.

It's what happens when so many sprint gold medals go to one country.

Veronica Campbell-Brown won the women's 200 meters Thursday to make Jamaica 4-for-4 in the Olympic sprints. Usain Bolt won the 100 and 200 - both in world-record times - while Shelly-Ann Fraser took the 100 title.

"Dominating like we are is no surprise," said Kerron Stewart, who took third in the 200, adding to the silver she shared with teammate Sherone Simpson for their dead heat in the 100. "I think this Olympics is the Jamaican Olympics."

Indeed. The island nation, population 2.8 million, captured seven of the 12 available medals in the men's and women's 100 and 200.

Next up, the relays, where the men's and women's 400 teams each won their heats Thursday and became the runaway favorites after both U.S. teams dropped their batons and failed to make their finals. If all goes as expected, Jamaica in 2008 will join the U.S. team of 1984 as the only one to sweep all six Olympic sprint gold medals.

Bolt's record-setting runs - 9.69 and 19.30 - were a blessing and a burden for Campbell-Brown.

"I had to come out here and do my part," she said.

Adding to the pressure was the fact that Campbell-Brown had missed qualifying in the 100, the race in which she was the defending world champion. Her spot effectively went to Fraser - yet another sign of how deep the talent pool is in Trelawny and Kingston, Ocho Rios and Linstead and all spots in between on the island.

So, how does a country with less than one-hundreth of the population of the United States blaze right past the Stars and Stripes?

Hard training, yes, but a big dose of fun.

Bolt demonstrated that with his showmanship all week, mugging for the camera, dancing and celebrating as if he was, well, having the time of his life. Which he was.

"Everybody's just having fun and working as hard as they can out there," Campbell-Brown said. "It doesn't matter how big or small the nation is."

Stewart felt like her country was overlooked coming into the games.

Not so any more.

"When you put Jamaicans in an environment like this, only good things happen," Stewart said. "We've been saying it, but I don't think anyone's been taking us seriously. I guess they are now."

American Allyson Felix, Thursday's 200-meters silver medalist, certainly has been.

"I can't say I'm surprised," Felix said. "They've always been strong. I don't think it's unexpected. I don't think it's shocking."

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