LOUISVILLE, Ky. — While Darius Brown didn’t make the team for this year’s Olympics, he said he cherished the experience.
The Louisville native is going into his senior year at DePaul University as a hurdler.
“So, my coach is like this year we're going to push for the trials, and we're going put you on this training plan,” he said. “And I followed it through.”
Brown had to run a qualifying time, and at first, he didn’t think he would make it.
He ended up qualifying.
I just did something like most people don't get a chance to do, and it's been a dream for me to been doing it like I've watched it before, and people was watching me like it was,” It was just a really, really fun time.”
Every athlete’s journey is intense, and Brown’s is no different.
“Oh man, that this year just been, I would say, been really insane; I broke the Big East 60-meter hurdle record,” he said. “And I found out that I was going to NCAA Indoor nationals, which was insane.”
After that, Brown ran for the 100 hurdles at the Olympic Trials with one of the country’s top hurdlers.
“We was walking in the tunnel, and then Grant Holloway, which most people know,” he said. “He's the best hurdler, probably to ever walking down the tunnel, he tagged me in the back. It's like, you can't escape me, can you D and I was like, Yeah, man. So, like, it's my first time, not my first time racing him, all that I was thinking of my head, top six. Get top six."
Brown made it to the semi-finals but his heat had a false start; he made it out of the blocks great, but had to reset. He ended up missing qualifying.
“And I was like, well, it don't matter, now on to the next race,” he said. “My coach Kim was like, we're proud. Like, we planned to make it to the semis and even farther. And I was just really stunned at the time.”
Brown’s eyes are now set on collegiate competition and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
“I do plan on defending my titles,” he said. “It'd be pretty cool, actually, for the 110s it'd be back-to-back-to-back, which would be really insane, three times. And I'm actually trying to break the 110 record too, while I'm at it, because I just want to leave my mark on the Big East.”
The inspiration behind Brown's track and field journey is through a family heirloom he wears around his neck to keep the memories of loved ones nearby.
“My auntie gave me this necklace, and it’s from my cousin Junie. He used to hurdle a long time ago. Unfortunately, he’s passed away,” he described. “This is right before I got to college, and I was about to run Nike nationals as senior. My other necklace was broken, and I had to put this on me. I put it on, and after that, I never took it off. I ran 13 after my first time breaking 14, I ran 13.8 with this necklace on.”
Brown's goals may be mighty, but he crosses each hurdle with a positive attitude.
“You just smile man – smile through it and you’ll get through it.”
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