Brown forced out big $$ races

World junior champion and record holder Darrel Brown has been forced to abort part of his programme towards preparing for the 2004 Olympics 100-metre showdown in Athens.

His absence because of injury from the international track will also cost him close to a million dollars in appearance fees and prize money. The 18-year-old Trinidadian established himself as the second fastest man on the planet by virtue of his silver medal performance at the just-concluded World Track and Field Championships held at the Stade de France, Paris. Brown earned silver in the short sprint, fractionally edged out by Kittitian Commonwealth champion Kim Collins who clocked 10.07. Brown was timed at 10.08. However, Brown clocked the fastest time among all the senior world-rated sprinters when he won his quarterfinal race in 10.01 secs which gave him the new world record among all-time junior sprinters. During the showpiece 100-metre final, (August 25), he experienced a severe twinge in the upper right thigh muscle but still pushed through to place second among the world’s elite senior sprinters.

Not one to bask too much in the glory of these achievements, Brown accepted his place among the world’s best but cannot now continue racing until he fully recovers from this latest setback. He returned home on Monday evening and was greeted by the Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Roger Boynes, Trinidad and Tobago Olympics Committee vice-president Larry Romany and Treasurer Brian Lewis. David Prime, his former El Dorado Senior Comprehensive coach, and his wife as well as Chevon Simpson, a member of the 2002 Carifta Games and Pan-Am Juniors relay teams, were also at the airport to offer their congratulations. During the welcome reception hosted at the Millennium Airport’s VIP Lounge, Brown disclosed that he would not be racing for the rest of the year.  “I told my agent that I am finished for the year. I will not be competing at any of the international races for the rest of the season,” Brown said. He explained that the injury was sustained mid-way during the 100-metre final but continued racing beyond the finish line. “Halfway during the final, I felt the twinge in the thigh muscle, the upper part. But I could not stop there. I had to finish the race,” he said.

In Paris, Brown received acupuncture treatment and was due to travel to Germany for further medical assistance. But after discussion with his parents, Winston Brown (father and manager) and Marilyn Jack Brown (mother) who were in Paris, it was agreed that he return home. His silver medal was left with his parents who are due to return shortly. Because of his injury, TT’s 4X100 metre relay team’s chances of getting another medal vanished as the quartet of Marc Burns, Ato Boldon, Jacy Harper and Nicconor Alexander was eliminated at the quarterfinal stages. With Brown as the main anchor at the World Championships in Edmonton in 2001 and the 2003 Pan-American Games, TT collected bronze in Canada and silver in the Dominican Republic. Brown, who attends the Southern Junior College at Auburn University, is expected to resume classes in another three weeks after getting the required treatment to his affected hamstring muscle. The new world junior record-holder misses out competing at top athletics meets in Europe. And because of his current position as the world’s senior silver-medallist, he would have earned beyond US $20,000 in appearance fees only at each meet.