Trinidad and Tobago’s sprinters impress
Laura Arcoleo
17 October 2000 - Santiago - Darrel Brown who turned 16 only last week might be the youngest competitor in the 100m (he was born on 11 October 1984) but he certainly isn’t the slowest. He won his morning heat in an impressive 10.60.
The time might not seem extraordinary compared to other winning times of this morning’s heats but the way Brown ran certainly was.
He came out of the blocks relatively slowly and then jogged all the way through his first race of the championships seeming effortless.
"I just want to qualify for the final. This is my main objective for these championships," said a very shy Brown.
Brown who will also compete in the 200m and the 4x100m is part of a strong team of 7 men and 3 women who made the trip from Port of Spain not so long after their more famous compatriot returned triumphantly from Sydney.
"Ato Boldon has done much for track and field in the country. We are happy to bring a strong team here and we hope to do well," Trinidad and Tobago’s team leader declared.
Boldon became known to the world of athletics when scoring a great sprint double in Seoul 1992 where he won both the 100m and the 200m World Junior titles.
When asked what the national junior 100m record is, Brown is doubtful. "10.2 something?" And when asked if he plans to break it, the answer is just an innocent smile.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Junior record is held by Ato Boldon with 10.22 and with a personal best of 10.36 Brown still has 3 years to improve this mark.
Heat 7 was then won by another athlete from Trinidad and Tobago, Marc Burns. 17 year-old Burns clocked a new personal best of 10.49 in the morning heat with astonishing ease.
The Caribbean island of Trinidad and Tobago has maybe found the sprinters who will take on Boldon’s legacy.
