The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

BEIJING, China — Once again, Chris ‘The Fireman’ Brown found himself in another tight squeeze, but he managed to survive he first round of the men’s 400 metres at the 15th IAAF World Championships.

In the last of the seven heats to bring Sunday’s morning session to a close, Brown clocked 44.68 seconds for fourth place as he faded in the winding metres on the home stretch.

He did secure the second of the six fastest times behind the automatic qualifiers to join Michael Mathieu and new national record holder Steven Gardiner, who advanced out of their heats ahead of him.

“I thank the Lord for allowing me to get around that big track,” said Brown about the facility inside the Bird’s Nest. “At 36 and putting it down like this, I’m just glad that I got out of the first round.

“No matter how much I try to hit it big, these guys always bring the pressure when it comes to me in my heat. I don’t know why. But I feel pretty good. I’m glad to get the dust off the first one and now I can prepare for tomorrow.”

Running on the inside in lane four, Brown managed to get out with the pack and was able to keep his composure as he trailed Wayde Van Niekerk of the Republic of South Africa, who led from start to finish in 44.42. Trinidad & Tobago’s Renny Quow got in a season’s best of 44.54 to hold onto second and American Bryshon Nellum caught and past Brown near the tape for third in 44.65.

“I felt a little rust, having not competed in a while and trying to get the bug of,” Brown said. “I just have to get the feeling again where I get back to the old me. But I’m glad I finished and was able to get through the first round.”

With some of the runners stepping it up big time in the first round, Brown said he’s not concerned about how fast they ran.

“I’m looking forward to coming back and repeating what I did today and run my time,” he said. “I’m not necessarily focusing on their times. As long as I execute my race, I think I will go back out there and get into the final.”

And with three Bahamians advancing to the semi-final, Brown said he was proud of the performances of both Mathieu and Gardiner, even though he didn’t get to watch their races.

“Just to get three of us in the final would be an even greater accomplishment. We never did that before,” Brown said. “Hopefully tomorrow, everybody will be ready to go. It’s showtime.”

Showtime, however, would not have been possible for Brown if LaToy Williams had not decided to give up his spot to allow the former national record holder to compete. Brown, who has ran consistently under the 45-second barrier this year, said he has endured quite a bit to get here.

“The last few weeks was stressful and very taxing, but I tried to put it behind me with prayers and family and just move forward,” he said. “It’s stressful when somebody has to put you through the turmoil like that and you are trying to put your best foot forward when your competitors have the green light to compete.

“So for me, I don’t think it was fair, but I just thank the Lord for allowing me to represent the Bahamas.”

And while he feels vindicated by his performance, Brown said it just shows that he’s in great shape and he’s looking forward to being in contention for a medal on Wednesday night when the final is held.

Brown will have to once again prove himself as he competes out of the first of three heats in lane two. He will have to contend with Kirani James from Grenada in lane seven, Luguelin Santos of Dominican Republic in six, American David Vergburg in five and Trinidad & Tobago’s Renny Quow in four.

The first two automatically qualify or will have to run one of the next two fastest times to make up the final.