Christine Bergeron Merrill July 18, 2008 at 3:19pm
Darren, Your interview was very moving to me. I can't help but feel as though I have a connection with you. The last time I saw you, you were one. I was living in Gainesville with you and your mom & dad while completing a college internship in FL w/the US Olympic Committee and your dad's good friend, Jimmy Carnes. I was 24 then, 46 now. Your dad was my coach, mentor, training partner and, unofficially, my agent. He promised me that if he coached me, I would qualify for the Olympic Track & Field Trials. He kept his promise. In 1984, I qualified in the 5,000m. (missed the 3,000m by 4 sec.due to a fractured foot). Your dad was, and will forever remain, one of the most influential individuals in my life. I credit Barry and my college coach, Fred LaPlante, for my running achievements. I thanked your dad many times for believing in me and enabling me to be the best I could be. He would never take credit for any of it. That's the kind of coach he was. I still have every workout he ever wrote for me. I think of him often and, to this day, reflect on his words of encouragement. Congratulations on your success! To say that your dad would be VERY proud is an understatement! BTW - After I left Gainseville, I moved to Austin with my husband. I lived there two years and trained with the UT women's track team under the guidance of Terry Crawford, something your dad encouraged me to do. I hope that one day I will have a chance to meet you, again. Give my best to your mom, Bobbi.
Congratulations Darren! I am so happy for you! I know you have worked hard for all of your accomplishments both on the track and off. Dad is definitely smiling and so very proud of you! I wish he was here to share this moment with you!
Dear Darren,
We wanted to take a moment to tell you how proud we are as a family of you the athlete, but more importantly as a young man. God, what a gift you are to those who love you. I missed knowing your dad(Tracy's Uncle Barry) by a couple of months and until today, I've felt cheated. However, after watching you Tracy and I are at a loss for words. She feels certain that she is watching her uncle Barry incarnate. I on the other hand am in awe of a young man as talented as you are, yet is able to conduct himself with class, dignity and humility that exudes a knowledge beyond your years. You truly are special. Congratulations on the 4:00 milestone. We all love you and continue to admire you from afar. We hope to see you in Lake George soon. God speed young man!
Darren,
We are so proud of you!!! I could watch this video ten more times. It is scary how much you look like your dad. We are so proud of you, and know he would be too!! You are such a great guy, and always have been. Your mom and Dave had done a great job!!! Our son Reid just said"Is that Darren?" I'm so glad you answered the phone when Tracy called you! Good luck, and we hope we can see you run one of these days.
We love you and think about you alot!
Darren, I can't congratulate you enough! Super! Your Dad changed my life in such a great way by talking me into running for Providence, and then somehow I ended up coaching running at his alma mater, Colonie H.S. in Albany! Everyone here is thrilled for you.
Great Going Darren we are all so proud of you what a super interview and race. Your father ran his first race in H.S. in Aunt Pat's sneakers he went to great hights from there and so have you. Your quite the young man and athlete and your Dad would be so proud.Hope to see you this summer
Ladies and Gentlemen. Meet an exceptional scholar, a gifted athlete, a person blessed with kindness and someone destined for greatness. What more is there to say? Oh yes, We're proud to know you, Darren. There, that says it all.
congratulations darren...we are so proud of you...we always wish we had a little more brown genes in us when we run the bolton race! we laugh at the 3 mile mark and say uncle barry was out on the boat by now :)
I just wanted to thank everyone on here for the kind words and support. This really meant a lot to my family and I. None of this would have happened though if it weren't for my coaches, teammates, faith, and family (most importantly my dad, who set this opportunity up ... and still has a better PR than me!) So thank you again for everything you all have said, but the real praise needs to go to the people mentioned above. God Bless.
Congrats Darren! We are so proud of you. I will show this to Poppy and Grandma on Saturday. By the way - Marty L. and your dad took Uncle Doug to a Florida Track Club meeting in Gainsville when your dad was president of the club and we were visiting many many years ago on our way to Marco Island. Marty and your dad stuffed Uncle Doug in the back of Marty's sports car and they took off. When they got back to the house Marty started laughing and said it was obvious Doug was not a runner because he was the only guy in the room with any meat on his bones! I believe Uncle Doug weighed about 185 lbs. then.
I used to run with your father both in Albany (I ran for Albany State) and in Bolton Landing NY (where i have a summer home near your grandfather and father) and competed against him in some road races. He was a great guy with a great work ethic and you have continued this tradition. Congratulations on a great achievement. I know your father would be proud of you.
This was a wonderful interview. I am so happy for Darren and it is such a great acheivement for him. I am happy that he can honor his father with such.
Interviews don't get any better than that. Great job, Mark, in interjecting that comment about it being in Texas when Darren understandably got chocked up.
This is the reason that a site like this has been long overdue, it's great to be able to see the emotion athletics. Thanks for bringing this to us Mark and thanks for letting us share in your joy Darren. I don't think I've ever been so happy for a guy I've never met. Congratulations!
An emotional Brown speaks after he breaks 4 for the first time, which makes him and and his late father to become the first US born father and son combo to break 4. April 5, 2008
Darren Brown Makes History
Hook 'em horns!
Summie
Congratulations! Very emotional.
We wanted to take a moment to tell you how proud we are as a family of you the athlete, but more importantly as a young man. God, what a gift you are to those who love you. I missed knowing your dad(Tracy's Uncle Barry) by a couple of months and until today, I've felt cheated. However, after watching you Tracy and I are at a loss for words. She feels certain that she is watching her uncle Barry incarnate. I on the other hand am in awe of a young man as talented as you are, yet is able to conduct himself with class, dignity and humility that exudes a knowledge beyond your years. You truly are special. Congratulations on the 4:00 milestone. We all love you and continue to admire you from afar. We hope to see you in Lake George soon. God speed young man!
Thom & Tracy
We are so proud of you!!! I could watch this video ten more times. It is scary how much you look like your dad. We are so proud of you, and know he would be too!! You are such a great guy, and always have been. Your mom and Dave had done a great job!!! Our son Reid just said"Is that Darren?" I'm so glad you answered the phone when Tracy called you! Good luck, and we hope we can see you run one of these days.
We love you and think about you alot!
Love, Tammy, Collin, Reid, and Chloe
No better guy deserved it.
3.59.99