It is amazing how quickly 22.05 seconds pass yet how much time there is for intensity and how quickly thereafter can come emotional release.

Pamela Bailey provided a quick study yesterday into this matter of emotion and time, watching the final of an Olympic 200 metres race and a mother’s joy in her daughter’s achievement. Big but restrained.

For a time yesterday, at Hayes Corn Piece in Clarendon, at the home of Neville Myton, it seemed that this study might not be possible.

Aunty P, or Paulette Myton, had clearly prepared for a party. The balloons were up, the snacks were out. Mr Myton had gone to Spanish Town to collect Pamela Bailey. The clock was ticking. Nearing time for the race to start. Veronica Campbell, to whom the Mytons have been long time mentors, was starting as the slight favourite.

Five minutes to go. Mrs Myton is a little bit concerned. But the car pulls up.

Pamela Bailey comes into the living room shares a few embraces and settles before the television. At the starter’s gun Veronica is out of her blocks and soon has a clear lead.

Pamela Bailey watches intently. But there is nothing passive about her quietness.

With Veronica in front and Allyson Felix straining to catch her, Neville Myton urges on his girl, willing her to the gold.

As Veronica crosses the line there is a massive eruption. Up goes Pamela Bailey.

“She win! She win! She win!” explodes the mother’s joy.

The dozen or so people in the Myton’s comfortable living room scream and shout and kiss and do little jigs.

“God is Good!” shouted Neville Myton, banging pot covers together.

As Campbell’s former Vere Technical schoolmates danced and screamed in celebration, Pamela Bailey hugged her youngest son close.

Tears trickle down her cheeks.

In the distance, from the little village square in Hayes Corn Piece, celebratory noises waft into the house. They, too, like the Mytons, had clearly been planning a party.

The Campbells’ home is not too far from Veronica’s alma mater, Vere Technical High School, the ‘sprint factory’ that has produced so many success stories. Aleen Bailey, fourth in yesterday’s race and Veronica’s friend, as well as the legendary Merlene Ottey are also product.

Outside the home hung a huge yellow Vere banner, greeting visitors. There were clusters of black, green and gold balloons. Newspaper cut-outs of Veronica’s successes dotted the walls.

All throughout the house is Veronica’s presence: her old running gear and uniforms were hung almost everywhere. Her former teammates, family and friends were present. They mostly wore the black, green and gold of the Jamaican flag.

Said Aunty P, who has been something of a second mother to Veronica: “I said to myself, ‘Any day the finals come I’m going to take out all her belongings, take them outside and it will be her day’.”

After all, for the past year-and-a-half, Paulette and Neville Myton’s home has become a second home for Vere Technical athletes, many of whom live outside of Clarendon and board at the school. At the Myton’s home, they find hot meals, a warm supportive environment, and the fatherly advice of Neville Myton, himself a former Olympian.

“This is one of my dreams come true,” Myton said yesterday.

His own mentoring of young athletes came from his own experiences at the 1968 Olympics, Myton explained.

“As a junior Olympian, I know the mistakes they made with me and I made an absolute promise that if I can, I would prevent that from happening to any athlete under my care,” he said. “This (Veronica’s gold medal run) is something that has been planned for one and a half years, and she did everything we talked about.”

Before yesterday’s race, Myton spoke to Veronica by telephone for about 40 minutes discussing strategy.

“We spent so much time going over everything,” he said. “. We just spoke about efficient running. I have never run into anyone that trained as hard as Veronica. She’s a fabulous athlete and an exceptional human being. She trains hard and she studies hard.”

Added Myton: “Veronica is like my own daughter and I’m very, very proud of her.”

So too are many other people.

In the aftermath of the race the telephone calls began to pour in. Aunty P spoke. Neville Myton spoke. Pamela Bailey had to quickly compose herself to talk to the well-wishers.

“I feel good of course,” she said, by now coming to terms with the enormity of her daughter’s golden run. “I know she could do it, and if you know Veronica you would know that too, because she is a very dedicated person, very humble and anything she put her mind to she do.”

Expectedly, among the first of those to phone was Lileith Atkins-Bryan, Vere Technical’s principal.

“I am speechless. overjoyed, and so very proud!” Atkins-Bryan said. “I retire on the 31st of August, so this is the best present I could have ever hoped for. I am even more overjoyed, because she has not just done us here at Vere proud, she has done Jamaica proud by winning the first two medals at these games. No-one could deserve this more than Veronica,” the principal added.

In the village square celebrations went all around.