... Lee, VCB shine at Indoor meet

WORLD Youth and World Junior 100m champion Dexter Lee achieved the automatic qualifying time in the Men's 60m event at next month's IAAF World Indoor Championships after running a personal best 6.66 seconds on Friday at the Tyson Invitational Meet at the University of Arkansas.

Nineteen-year-old Lee, who was running only his third Indoor race since turning pro last season, was second behind American Mike Rogers after winning his preliminary heat in 6.70 seconds.

Meanwhile, Lee's training partner Veronica Campbell Brown continued her preparation for her first IAAF World Indoor Championships by winning the 60m race in a season best 7.15 at the meet.

Lee, who debuted in the 60m at a race in East Tennessee in mid January when he won in 6.71, mis-timed his finish two weeks ago in the preliminary heats at the Millrose Games in New York, finishing fourth in 6.72 seconds and missed the final.

After Friday's race, Lee told the Sunday Observer he was still working on learning the new discipline.

"We don't compete at 60m in Jamaica, so I'm still learning the race," he said, adding, "I'm very satisfied so far with my progress."

While the time for the former Herbert Morrison athlete is under the automatic qualifying standard of 6.69secs for the World Indoors, he is the third-fastest Jamaican over the distance this season.

Lerone Clarke leads with a personal best 6.57secs set when he won an Area Permit Meet in Stuttgart, Germany, earlier this month, while Ryan Shields ran 6.58 at a meet in Bloomington, Indiana, on January 30.

The IAAF rules allows for three entrants from each country in each event in Doha, providing they all achieve the automatic qualifying time.

Lee, who is based in Atlanta, Georgia, is aiming to become the first man to retain the World Junior 100m title this year when the event is held in Moncton, Canada, in late July.

Campbell Brown, who was running her second Indoor race in two weeks after opening with a 7.25 seconds in New York on January 29, is third on the world list behind the US Virgin Islands' LaVerne Jones-Ferrette's 6.97 seconds and American Carmelita Jeter's 7.05.

On Friday night, Campbell Brown -- who has won medals at every level and in every major global event, except the World Indoors -- edged Trinidad's Kelli-Ann Baptiste, 7.16.

Campbell Brown, who is very familiar with the track at the University of Arkansas after attending school there for two years, won her qualifying heat in 7.19.

Simone Facey, with a season best 7.34, and Samantha Henry, 7.36, are the other two Jamaicans who have achieved the automatic qualifying time of 7.37secs.

LEE... placed second behind Mike Rogers in men's 60m

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