Despite all the national championship titles Aaron Brown has won throughout his long speed race, these in Langley Township, BC, this week have been a little different.
On Sunday afternoon with sweltering heat, Brown sprinted above the rest of the field to win the men’s 200-meter title in a time of 20.03 seconds. Jerome Blake of Kelowna, BC, finished second in a time of 20.32.
AARON BROWN FOR THE WIN
Jerome Blake second in a time of 20.32 pic.twitter.com/hj1OyI7UBi
– @ Devin_Heroux
In the women’s 200-meter final, Natassha McDonald set a personal best time of 22.67 to win the national title. Although it was below the world standard, there was an illegal wind which means time does not count.
It was McDonald’s first national championship.
Brown’s victory gives him 10 national titles and is the fourth time he has won the 100 and 200 meter events in the same national championship.
“The others, it’s easy to take them for granted sometimes because you’re always focused on the big championships. You want that glory. But go. Ten times. That’s a lot. We have great people in Canada in the sprints,” Brown said. after the race.
Celebrating as a family
At 30, Brown is approaching the winter of his career, but with the heat of summer he put on a show over the weekend at the Nationals. And while victories are enjoyable, now celebrating victories with your family is what makes this part of your trip the most memorable.
“These are moments that define the legacy not only on the track, but also as a parent. Those also go differently. It’s always special when you can incorporate family into what you do. When I can incorporate them it means the world.” said Brown.
“Someday he’ll look back and see what I’ve done. If one day he wants to be a sprinter, I’ll tell him he has 10 championships to catch his dad.”
Shortly after his victory in the 100 meters on Saturday night, Brown took the podium to receive his gold medal.
For the first time he had company.
Brown took his one-year-old son Kingsley in his arms as he leaned over to put the medal around his neck. Brown’s pride at that moment was evident as he shone, on the podium watching his son.
“Getting gold in front of my son is special. He will love those moments one day when he grows up and can understand what I just did. Being a part of that is a special time for us,” Brown said.
Lots of encouragement for
And one last stop to his family: his wife and son in the front row to see Brown’s tenth national title win. .
Highlights here as nationals run out in Langley Township pic.twitter.com/d3Lk6jw9Lj
– @ Devin_Heroux
Brown enjoyed the moment with Kingsley for what seemed like a lifetime, his wife Preeya Milburn taking pictures of the two of them.
“I didn’t expect to do it, but I saw the opportunity. They also gave him a medal that was unexpected. It’s his first medal,” Brown said.
“At some point my passions will become more present with him because that involves a lot of sacrifice. A lot of travel. My wife is making sacrifices. She believes in my dreams. And I’m leaving. To move on. “.
All three walked together down the track, crossing the same goal Brown won both races. Kingsley wore a T-shirt that said Team Brown on his back with a maple leaf.
Aaron Brown walks down the track with his one-year-old son Kingsley. (@ Devin_Heroux / Twitter)
These moments for Brown are certainly special, but they are also putting a more subtle point to the imminent end of his career. There is still a long way to go for the Toronto sprinter. But he admits that having a child has changed his game.
“When you have a child it makes you look back a little bit and you start thinking about what will come next. That gives me a sense of urgency that my time is now and to take advantage of it,” Brown said.
He has been successful on the international stage in the form of two Olympic relay medals, bronze in Rio and silver last summer in Tokyo. And although Brown loves those moments, it’s an individual medal in an international meet he so longs for before hanging up the spots.
“I’ve been in a few finals now and it felt great to get that monkey off my back. And now it’s just about going to that place on the podium. I feel like I can mix it up with the best of them.” , he said.
“There is no time machine or magic elixir that will set the clock back and you will not recover those moments. I try to absorb it more and go to break. Think without limits. Why not go to great glory?”
Brown will compete in both the 100m and 200m at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in mid-July.
He is full of confidence after a solid demonstration at the nationals, now ready to face the world again.
“I don’t let myself be intimidated anymore. At this point in my career I know what I can do. We have equal playing conditions. We all start on the same line. Once we get to this track in the worlds, they have to do it. In front of me.” he said.
“This is the time. Why not go there?”
Newman wins the women’s pole vault title
Struggling with scorching heat and a swirling wind, Alysha Newman was able to climb 4.40 meters to win the women’s pole vault event on Sunday afternoon.
It is the fourth national title for the 27-year-old.
“I wanted to go out and show Newman’s back to everyone,” he said after the win.
NEWMAN IS BACK
After spending much of last season recovering from a concussion, she is now full of confidence. to the world next month. pic.twitter.com/JwqB5gmkPW
– @ Devin_Heroux
Newman needed her third and final attempt to clear the bar, which she says she is not afraid to address.
“I’ve always been a girl for the third time. I like that buildup and that excitement. It allows me not to think too much,” she said.
“Third attempts make you work hard.”
Newman holds the national record for the event, having surpassed 4.82 meters in 2019. But he spent most of last season recovering from a concussion.
Recently, he surpassed 4.70 meters and is back in world-class form just three weeks ahead of the world.
“When you go through an injury it’s very hard to know where you’ll end up after,” he said.
“But I’ve devoted hundreds of thousands of hours to pole vaulting and just because I got injured doesn’t mean going back to base zero.”