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Club: Sale
Harriers
100m &
200m
Personal Best Times: 10.04 &
20.13
During 1991 and 1992 Darren became the most successful
British athlete at junior level, winning four Gold and two
Silver Medals at International Championships. At the European
Junior Championships at Thessaloniki in 1991, Darren became
the first Briton to win the sprint double (100m and 200m) and
also won a Gold in the 4 x 100m relay. The following year,
competing in Seoul at the World Junior Championships he was
runner-up in the 100m and the 200m and anchored the relay
team to victory.
Darren made his debut on the senior circuit at the age of 18
as a member of the 4 x 100m squad for the Stuttgart World
Championships in 1993. Darren spent the winter of 1993/94
training in Australia with Linford Christie and Colin
Jackson. His full introduction to senior international
athletics followed, however it was unfortunately interrupted
by injury. Darren's other love is football, and having
recovered from his injury he decided to play football. After
two successful seasons with Newport FC and Weymouth FC,
Darren decided the time was right to return to
athletics.
In 1995 following another stint of winter training with
Linford Christie, this time in Florida, Darren made his
breakthrough on the World circuit, running a personal best
time of 10.17 in Bratislava at the end of May
1996.
Following a disappointing performance at the Olympic Trials
in Birmingham in 1996, missing out on an individual place in
the 100m. Darren's misfortune continued in Atlanta, where he
was prevented from finishing the relay in the 4 x 100m, as
the baton was dropped before it reached him. However, due to
his consistent times throughout the Grand Prix circuit,
Darren earned himself a place in the Grand Prix Final in
Milan, the only European in the line
up.
Darren's 1997 season on the International circuit commenced
with fine victories in the 100m and 200m at the Welsh Games
in Cardiff. A string of successful races in Europe resulted
in a personal best over 200m of 20.84 secs. at the National
Championships, Birmingham (July). The World Championships in
Athens, illustrated Darren's rapid progress to become one of
Britain's leading sprinters. He was the only Briton to reach
the semi-final stage of the 100m event, clocking a personal
best time of 10.13 secs, and was a member of the British 4 x
100m relay team, collecting a Bronze Medal in the
final.
Darren's potential as a sprinter is unlimited. A rigorous
training programme over the winter period saw him training
with Frankie Fredericks in Namibia, and then with his coach
Linford Christie and the "Nuff" Respect group in Lanzarote
and Australia at the beginning of 1998. Darren's hard work in
the closed season had a tremendous effect. He won the 100m at
the National Championships in Birmingham. He went on to win
Gold at the European Championships in Budapest, smashing his
personal best to 10.04 secs, and in doing so, breaking his
coach and mentor's Championship record. He ended the
Championships by adding another Gold in the 4 x 100m. Darren
unfortunately missed the World Cup in South Africa through
injury but returned to compete in the Commonwealth Games in
Malaysia where he finished fifth in the 100m final in a time
of 10.08 and collected another relay gold in the 4x100
England team. In his only 200m of the season, Darren set
another lifetime p.b. of 20.48.
Darren started the 1999 season slowly, with a number of low
key races. In a season that had been dominated by his friend
Dwain Chambers, Darren was happy to stay out of the
limelight. However, he did break Linford Christie's GRE
domestic league record for 100m in 10.11secs. Darren reached
the semi-final of the 100m in the World Championships,
despite being disappointed in not reaching the final, Darren
ran a superb relay leg in the 4x100m winning a silver medal
and gaining a European record in 37.73secs. Darren later ran
World Champion Maurice Green close in the 100m at a end of
the season GB v USA match in Glasgow where he was within
0.02secs of Green.
Despite a disappointing 1999 season, Darren realised that he
had the ability and needed to convert this into victories.
With some new found confidence and a four month rigorous
training programme in Australia, Darren had a blistering
start to the 2000 season, storming home to win the Europa Cup
for Britain in a 10.09(w). He then surprised everybody but
himself in winning the 200m at the AAA's National
Championships, beating favorite Christian
Malcolm.
He was just edged out of winning the 100m by Dwain Chambers,
however two fine runs confirmed his presence at the Olympics
in both the 100m & 200m. He ran well in the 100m coming
6th in the final, but the 200m showed that Darren has the
ability, the maturity and the confidence to be the very best.
His scintillating 200m runs in the heats, which included a
20.13 p.b, moved him into the 200m Olympic final as a
prospective medalist. Darren ran the final and won a silver
medal, a testimony to both himself and his coach. Darren not
content with his medal at the Olympics then went on to win
the 100m Grand Prix final in Doha a week
later.
2001 Winter training went extremely well and Darren was keen
to go one better at the World Championships in Edmonton to
take the Gold medal. Disaster struck in his first race for
his Club (Belgrave Harriers) when he pulled his hamstring,
which resulted in Darren watching the entire 2001 season from
the sidelines. Never one to miss an opportunity, Darren
joined the Eurosport Team covering the World Atheltics
Championships and made guest appearances on Breakfast TV and
Radio.
A decision was made early in 2002 that he would not run
indoors and totally focus on winning the Commonwealth Games
100m and 200m Gold medals in his home city of Manchester,
before heading off to Munich to retain his European 100m
title.
Darren's progress through the sprinting hierarchy has
resulted in him becoming the focal point of much media
attention. The British and European Champion is regularly
featured in the media and has made numerous appearances on TV
and London's fashion catwalks. He is sponsored by Fila and
drives a Rover 75.
A decision was made early in 2002 that he would not run
indoors and totally focus on winning the Commonwealth Games
100m and 200m Gold medals in his home city of Manchester,
before heading off to Munich to retain his European 100m
title. After a disappointing performance at the Commonwealth
Games Trials, it was discovered that Darren had been
suffering from a viral infection and was grateful that the
Selectors showed faith in him and selected him for the 200m
and relay. Having recovered from the infection, Darren ran
superbly at the European Trials in Birmingham (13th -
14th July) securing a place in both the 100m and 200m at the
European Championships.
The Commonwealth Games came a little too soon in Darren's
recovery to full fitness but he rewarded the Manchester crowd
for their support with an impressive run in the 200m Final to
win a bronze medal for England. The final night of the
Athletics belonged to Darren and the victorious 4 x 100m
team, who were given the Gold after judges had studied the
photo finish image, ahead of the Jamaican
team.
With only a few days rest, Darren was on a plane to the
European Championships in Munich as the only athlete doubling
up in both the 100m and 200m. Darren pulled out all the stops
in 100m Final and finished a creditable third behind his team
mate Dwain Chambers who took the Gold. Darren looked
impressive in the rounds of the 200m and went into the semi
finals as the favourite for the Gold medal. Unfortunately,
fate dealt him a severe blow, when he was controversially
disqualified for running on the line. This decision was not
disputed by the British Team, much to Darren's dismay. With
three major championship medals under his belt for 2002,
Darren joined his British team mates in the 4 x 100m and
added yet another Gold to his already impressive collection
of medals.
Darren decided to call an early end to his 2002 season to
concentrate on getting his injuries completed cleared up,
ready to go back into winter training in
October.
Darren's progress through the sprinting hierarchy has
resulted in him becoming the focal point of much media
attention. The British and European Champion is regularly
featured in the media and has made numerous appearances on TV
and London's fashion catwalks. |
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MG Rover Group Ltd 2004. [RECREATED BY THE RED ROVER].