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Jamaican sprint legend Veronica Campbell-Brown on why she survived the U.S Collegiate system that normally "messes up" Jamaican runners as Usain Bolt recently opined.
Jamaican sprint legend Veronica Campbell-Brown has revealed how she managed to navigate the American collegiate system, a path that has proven difficult for many Jamaican athletes.
Her comments come after Usain Bolt recently criticized the system, claiming it tends to “mess up” many athletes from Jamaica.
Bolt made the remarks on Justin Gatlin’s Ready Set Go podcast, where he explained why he turned down a lucrative offer to train in the United States after high school.
“The reason Veronica made it out was because a lot of these schools run you hard,” Bolt stated. “If you watch a lot of these athletes that went to college, they turned pro, and it wasn’t the same. And what I heard, I don’t know if it’s true, is that there are a lot of levels where you have to run every weekend.”
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Now, Campbell-Brown has echoed similar sentiments on the same podcast, crediting her ability to turn professional to the careful management of her workload and the guidance she received.
Campbell-Brown explained that she didn’t initially qualify for NCAA Division 1 due to SAT requirements, which are not commonly taken in Jamaica. This led her to Barton County College, a decision she believes set the foundation for her success.
“That is the key—it was an opportunity to continue improving my education and my track career,” she said.
"I didn't get into a mentorship program soon enough to get a high score, so in the end, I had to make a choice,” she said.
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“Barton County College was a great place. The history of dominating the collegiate arena was intriguing to me, and I took the opportunity to go there, do my best, and transition after.”
She also revealed that financial constraints played a major role in her decision.
“The main goal was to get a scholarship and leave Jamaica because there was no way my parents could have afforded to send me to college in Jamaica. That was a way out, and I took it.”
Campbell-Brown added that her transition to Barton was smooth, even though she was coming off an injury. “I was taken care of, and I didn’t have to rush into anything. So when it was time for the more elevated competition, I was ready.”
Campbell-Brown later transferred to the University of Arkansas, where she continued her development. She admitted that part of her motivation for the move was her relationship with Omar Brown, who was attending Arkansas at the time and is now her husband.
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While at Arkansas, she trained under Coach Green, while legendary sprint coach Lance Brauman oversaw the men’s program. After college, she and McLeod made the decision to follow Brauman to Florida to train at NTC in Clermont.
Campbell-Brown credits her success at Arkansas for giving her the confidence to transition to the professional ranks.
“I was blessed because, in my senior year at the University of Arkansas, I won the 200m in Atham. That was the moment I realized I could go pro. So, I decided to turn professional while staying in school to finish my degree.”
Winning at that level reassured her that she belonged among the elite. “Tasting victory put my mind at ease, knowing that to stay at the top, I just had to keep working hard. It was another level, another elevation in mentality.”
One of the biggest reasons why Campbell-Brown thrived in a system that many Jamaicans struggle with was the careful management of her races. She explained that both Barton County College and Arkansas ensured she was not overworked—something Bolt has criticized as a major issue in the U.S. system.
“At Barton and the University of Arkansas, I was never overworked or over-raced. I was able to carry that same approach into my professional career. My agent never over-scheduled me or pushed me into too many races. Instead, I had the flexibility to choose when and where I wanted to compete.”
Her professional team also played a key role in protecting her career. “My agent and coaches worked well together to ensure I was taken care of, and that made all the difference. Having a great team that cared about me as an individual helped me perform at the highest level.”
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