Pierre Brown is becoming a force in the SEC

Jeremy Ireland
Reflector Reporter

Perhaps Mississippi State is not the first place most Canadian athletes consider. For Pierre Browne, a freshman sprinter from Ontario, Canada, it was where he decided to come.

"I felt like I could live out here," said Browne explaining why he chose MSU. "Also, the graduation rate for athletes was very good."

In high school Browne was a member of Canada's Junior Naional team and anchored the 4x100-meter relay squad to the gold medal.

His events coach, Reynaud Alexander, expects Browne to continue to run the 4x100-meter relay.

"We don't have a 4x100 team unless he's running," said Alexander. Alexander went on to say that Browne could be a main part of a very good 4x100-meter relay team if some of the football players were to run track.

"With (Terrell) Grindle, and Pierre, and Dontae (Walker) and Larry (Huntinton) we could run with anyone in the conference," said Alexander.

In individual competition, Browne has run with everyone in the conference, even as a freshman. At the SEC Quad in Lexington, Kent., Browne was a runner-up in both events that he ran, the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter dash.

At the SEC Indoor Championships, Browne set a personal record for the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.17 seconds, a time which was the second fastest ever at MSU.

"My goal for the rest of the season is to qualify for the outdoor nationals and to make it to the finals if I qualify," said Browne.

Browne has already competed in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. He was one of only two MSU track athletes to do so and one of only two freshman in the nation who qualified for the event.

Building on his successful indoor season, Browne will most likely run the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash in addition to running on the men's 4x100-meter relay squad.

"I really haven't scratched the surface with Pierre," said Alexander, "He's got a lot of natural talent. We're very enthused about his potential."

With this natural talent, Browne had a very successful high school career. He won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash at the province championships, something he counts as some of his proudest accomplishments in high school. Browne also claimed a silver medal in the 100-meter dash at the 1999 Canadian Junior Nationals.

Browne is not satisfied with his current accomplishments, though. He hopes one day to have the chance to run for the Canadian national team. In order to have the chance to do so, though, Browne still has work to do.

"I've got to be more disciplined," said Browne and Alexander concurs, saying that Browne's focus is one of his weak points.

Browne said that the workouts are much harder in college and the warmer climate of Mississippi has taken a while to get used to.

Though the climate is much different than Browne's native Ontario, his college career has gotten off to a good start and if Alexander is right, Browne's success will continue.