By DAHALIA SMITH ~ NG Sports Reporter ~ dahalia@nasguard.com:
Olympic medalist Chris 'The Fireman' Brown, was selected by Norfolk State University Athletics Foundation to be inducted into its 2009 Hall of Fame class.
The news came as one of the world's top five, and the region's premier quarter-miler prepares for his season opener this Saturday at the Adidas Track Classic in Carson, California. The Hall of Fame Brunch and Induction Ceremony is set for Saturday, June 6, at 11:00 a.m. at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel. This induction follows on heels of Brown being inducted into the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame in March.
Brown said: "It is an honor and a blessing to be inducted twice in one year. I am blessed and grateful for the blessings God continues to bestow upon me."
Brown is amongst 16 honorees set to be inducted, with 12 of them being former Norfolk State University Spartans, two former head coaches and two other individuals. This year's athletes who will be inducted include former football players Darius Blount, Ricky Lee Ray, James Roe and Aaron Sparrow; basketball players Eugene Cunningham, Norma Knight Evans, Lisa Rice and Jennine Tanks; track athletes Chris Brown, James Johnson and Joseph Thornton; and wrestler James Lee.
Brown represented the Spartans in men's track and field between 1999-2001. Some of his accomplishments during that time include becoming a two-time Division I All-American in the 400 meters (2000-01). In addition, he currently holds school records in the 400 meters (m), 500 meters, 4x400 meter and sprint medley relays. Brown's recent achievements on the international stage further set him aside as a top candidate.
At the 2008 Summer Olympics, he led The Bahamas' men's 4x400m team to a silver medal finish and placed fourth in the open 400m. Then earlier this month, Brown led the Bahamian 4x400m relay team to a second place finish at the Penn Relays. They had already qualified for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships.
Brown, Michael Matthieu, Nathaniel McKinney and Andrae Williams finished second in a time of 3:00.29 behind the USA's 'A' team which won in 2:59.78. The qualifying mark is set at 3:03.30. The IAAF World Championships is the most anticipated track and field meet aside from the Olympics, and it is set for August 15-23 in Berlin, Germany. Now all of Brown's energy will be focused on this Saturday's meet in California. He said that he would attempt to qualify for the World Championships in the open men's 400m. Olympic teammate and 2008 NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Champion Andretti Bain is also expected to attempt to qualify in the same event this Saturday.
In related news, there are several more May events listed on the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) calendar. They include the Primary Schools Championships, which starts next week, the Central American and Caribbean Age Group Championships (June 18-20) in New Providence, the Open Nationals June 26-27 and the IAAF World Youth Championships set for Bressanone, Italy from July 8-12.