Brown determined to make Olympic team »

Brown determined to make Olympic team

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Brown ... keen to represent Jamaica at this year's Olympics. - File

COMMONWEALTH GAMES 200-metre champion Omar Brown said his determination to make Jamaica's team to the Beijing Olympics has nothing to do with his wife's almost certain inclusion.

"Well, we are two different athletes," Brown, who last November married Veronica Campbell, pointed out. "She runs the 100m/200m, I run the 200m," continued the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games 200m champion.

"She is the defending champion and I am really happy for her," he said of his wife, but "I need to take care of (my) business and make sure I am on that team," continued the Brown, who was ranked ninth in the world in 2006 by Track & Field News.

Anxious to compete

He said only health or fitness issues could prevent him from going to Beijing.

To date, that's not a problem.

"I am healthy and training pretty well ... I'm just looking forward to competing," he said.

Brown, whose personal best is 20.33, done in 2006, is aware of the class Jamaica has in his event.

Usain Bolt, who holds the national record of 19.75 and was last year's World Championships silver medallist; Chris Williams, the 2001 World Championships silver medallist; Marvin Anderson, Nesta Carter (20.38 PR) and Ricardo Williams (20.46 SB), among others, are the leading contenders for the June 27-29 trials.

Good sprinter

"I am really not going to single out anyone right now," he said. "It's going to be a good field. We have some really good sprinters in Jamaica, I just need to go out there (trials), stay focused and, as long I am healthy ... I will make the team," explained the 1999 IAAF World Youth Championships 200m bronze medallist.

"I am determined. I am training pretty well right now, I am healthy, all I have to do is go out there and compete," he said.

"I also need to get some races under my belt," added Brown, who races this weekend at the Reebok Classic.

"The ultimate dream is to make it to the Olympics and this year, an Olympic year, that's my dream. I really want to be there to compete for my country," he said.

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