Jamaica's Campbell feels NCAA wrath again

Veronica Campbell of Jamaica in action
Photo: Gary Smith

by Gary Smith
for Caribbean Net News

Monday, February 21, 2005

KINGSTON, Jamaica: After preventing Olympic 200-metres champion Veronica Campbell from competing in two events at last weekend's Powered by Tyson Invitational meet, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) now tabulates the Jamaican as an academic blot on the University of Arkansas.

A puzzled Lady Razorback coach Lance Harter said, "She was SEC All-Academic Honor Roll." 

Since Campbell did not return to the Lady Razorbacks for her senior year she counts a negative point to the University of Arkansas in the new system the NCAA invoked. According to reports from NWA News, it (NCAA) rewards an athlete a point for each semester he or she returns academically eligible, but subtracts a point if they leave prematurely for whatever reason, which might have nothing to do with academics or the coach. 

Campbell who now competes for Adidas was denied last June from competing in the 100 and 200 meter dashes at the Outdoor Championships although she was ranked number one.

The NCAA overruled meet referee John Chaplin’s excusing her from running those events at the NCAA Regional Qualifying meet. Chaplin excused her because she strained a hamstring while running on Arkansas’ 4x100 relay team in what was the first of her three scheduled races. 

Despite the distractions the world leader in the 60m and 200m is back at the UA progressing toward her degree in International Business and Marketing. "Adidas, the athletic apparel company, pays for her education plus a six-figure contract," Harter said. 

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