Brown joins Powell camp.
Coaches form strategic alliance.
Kwame Laurence (Express).
Trinidad and Tobago sprinter Darrel Brown has joined the Jamaica-based MVP Track Club, and will train with 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell.
Henry Rolle, who coached Brown to World Championship 100m silver back in 2003, told the Sunday Express he is confident the decision to switch the 21-year-old track star's training base from Auburn, Alabama to Kingston, Jamaica is the best one.
"I was asked to work with Darrel, and I told him I would guide him to a point where I felt I could not take him any further, and then I would send him to the place that is best for him.
"I don't have an ego," the Bahamian coach continued, "and regardless of public perception, I know when I can';t reach an individual."
Rolle will continue to coach Brown's close friend and compatriot, Marc Burns.
"I still feel I can reach Marc. He has had ups and downs this year, but that's because he had a personal situation that affected him. But that's now behind him, and next year Marc will be back on track."
Rolle, who is employed full-time by Auburn University, has enjoyed a successful career, coaching 12 Olympians, five World Championship medallists and nine Commonwealth Games medallists. He also had the satisfaction, this year, of seeing his charges capture the NCAA Outdoor Championship women's team title.
Rolle said that while many top coaches were keen to work with Brown, MVP's Jamaican coach Stephen Francis is the one he believes can help the T&T sprint star maximise his potential.
"I know Francis and I have full respect for him. He and (another Jamaican) Glen Mills are the only coaches I felt comfortable with. Francis has a contract to work exclusively with Nike athletes, and since Darrel is contracted to Nike, Francis was the obvious choice.
"And I know Francis as a person," the Auburn University coach continued, "and I believe he runs a clean slate."
Rolle said he will be working very closely with Francis in the future.
"Francis will act as an advisor from now on. He will help me. And when I can't travel to meets, all my athletes will be taken care of. You need people in your corner you can trust."
Rolle was Brown's coach when he set the 100m world junior record of 10.01 seconds, in 2003.
Before leaving Trinidad to work with Rolle, Brown was coached by the late Nestor "Tom" Brown, at Phoenix Athletic Club.
"Tom did a great job with Darrel," Rolle declared. "Many times I wished he were alive and I could have called on him. If he were alive after Darrel turned pro, I would have highly recommended that Darrel return home. Francis and Mills have proved that you can do it outside of the USA."
Rolle said he is satisfied with the progress made by both Brown and Burns while in his charge.
"Regardless of what I have and have not accomplished, I feel good. Both are better than when they first came. If I have not put them in a better situation, helping them to be better young men and role models, then I have failed completely. I feel I have put them in a better situation.
"I want to thank those in the NAAA and the media in Trinidad and Tobago," Rolle continued, "who supported me. And I also want to thank those who didn't."
Both Brown and Burns will have new management next season. They have both been managed by John Regis, at Stellar Athletics, but will not renew their Stellar contracts.
