Darrel Brown (Trinidad) wins the World Junior 100m title (© Getty Images)
Trinidad’s World Junior sprint champion Darrel Brown has made an early decision to earn his living from the sport, while continuing his education in the United States next year.
Brown, who stormed to a championship and national junior record of 10.09, when winning the World junior 100m title in Kingston, Jamaica on 17 July 2002, has been snapped up by Nike in a four year deal which will guarantee the costs of the 18-year-old’s education at Southern Union Community College in Auburn, Alabama.
The decision to turn pro makes Brown ineligible to race on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) circuit next year, but his agent, Britain’s John Regis the former European champion and twice World Championships medallist at 200m is adamant that Brown’s decision is more than sensible.
“Since he’s not in the NCAA system, he can focus on being a professional athlete,” confirmed Regis. “He can go out and learn his trade. Going through the NCAA system would only have held him back. But he’s a young kid and college is crucial. It’s paramount that his education comes first. An athlete’s life-span can be short, so this way he has the best chance of making it.”
Brown will be paid quarterly by Nike, and as well as his educational costs there will be plenty of opportunities to receive bonuses for records and medals.
Trinidad Express online