GORDON WILLIAMS, Contributor

Brown ... Planning to run in the 44s by the time the trials roll around. - file

Defending CommonwealthGames 200 metres champion Omar Brown will switch to the quarter mile event this year in a bid to make Jamaica's team for the 2008 Olympics.

Brown, who raced sparingly last year and did not make Jamaica's team to the IAAF World Championships of Athletics in Japan, said he will compete in the 400 metres to reduce the risk of injury and capitalise on his natural speed.

"I'm running the 400 this year," said the 25-year-old, who is originally from Trelawny but currently based in the United States. "At (Jamaica's) trials, I will be running the 400 metres."

Brown, a bronze medallist in the 100 metres at the 2001 World Youth championships who has personal best times of 10.28 in the 100 and 20.33 in the 200, said the exertion required in the shorter sprints puts him at continuous risk for further damage.

"I was getting a lot of injuries because of the explosiveness of the 200 metres," he explained last Tuesday. "... I wasn't maximising my potential in the 200 metres because I was always being injured ... I couldn't train well."

Brown was slowed last year by an injury he suffered in November 2006 when he stepped on the base of a hurdle and twisted his ankle while training in Arkansas.

"It stopped me from training consistently," Brown said. "I had to train two times a week because it hurt ... As a result, I couldn't compete often."

Ankle sprain

He said the "ankle sprain" limited him to a single race leading up to Jamaica's 2007 trials, where he did not perform well. That cost him a spot on the country's World Championships team.

"I wasn't sharp," Brown said.

Brown said he shut down his training and competition programme after the national trials because of the discomfort caused by the injury. However, he attended the World Championships as an assistant coach, helping his then fiancée, Veronica Campbell. She won the 100 metres and placed second in the 200. Campbell also anchored Jamaica's relay women team to second place in the 4x100 metres.

Now Brown said he is preparing to make his own impact on the world stage. The ankle injury has healed and he returned to training in September. He also married Campbell in Jamaica and the couple moved from Arkansas to Florida to train with American coach Lance Brauman.

Brown said he plans to run a few 200 metre races as part of his preparation, in addition to the quarter mile, but will not compete indoor this season. He is also unsure when he will run his first outdoor meet. However, both he and Brauman are happy with his progress so far.

"I'm feeling pretty well in practice," Brown said. "It (the injury) doesn't bother me. I feel 100 per cent in training.

"I've not missed any practice since I started in September. Coach is pleased."

Brown said he has some experience over the longer distance. He competed in the 400 metres both indoor and outdoor while attending the University of Arkansas. His fastest time in the event was 46 seconds, which he ran in 2005. However, he plans to clock "in the 44s" by the time the trials roll around.

"I think I have the capability of running real fast," Brown said.

"... 2008 I'm looking forward to competing, stay healthy and run fast."

Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.