I am up to the challenge - Brown

Xavier Brown, the new St Jago High school boys sprints coach, knows that he has some huge shoes to fill at the Monk Street, Spanish Town-based institution.

But he toldSTAR Sports that he is not intimidated by the task at hand, as he feels his years under the guidance of Glen Mills, has prepared him well to deal with the challenges of coaching at the high school level in Jamaica.

"While I respect what the other coaches at St Jago have achieved, I am not worried about rising to their level, because I worked with coach Mills at High Performance Training centre from 2003 to 2004, and then I transitioned to Racers Track Club. I think it was my relationships with him and the whole Racers group that made me into the person I am today, because he taught me a lot, so I think I have what it takes to prepare these guys," Brown explained.

The 36-year-old took charge of the sprints programme at St Jago last September, after Rahnsomn Edwards left for North Street to try to orchestrate Kingston College's next title hunt.

"I was at Jago as the football coach and then I started working with the athletes in September (last year)," he explained.

But Brown is not new to coaching as he has been working with the sprinters at Clarendon College for the past three years and has gotten some admirable results.

He guided Rajay Morris to the under-17 200m title at the Carifta Games last year.

"I have been working with the sprinters there (Clarendon)and the objective is not only to prepare them to excel on the track but also to do well academically," Brown said.

Although he insists that he coaches from 100m to 400m, he seems to have a knack for the half-lap race, the event in which he won a gold medal for Jamaica at the at the Central American and Caribbean Games back in 2006.

His 200m runners, Morris 21.41, St Jago's Javari Thomas 21.48, Rasheed Broadbell 21. 70 and Kavian Kerr 21.81. have all looked good in Class One.

Vashaun Vascianna, the sprint hurdler, has also impressed in Class Two with 21.70 thus far this season.

"As a young coach, I don't really come into the programme to compare myself with any coach or what has been done before me. I show the utmost respect to those who come before me. It is indeed a pleasure to work at St Jago and I will try to fulfill most of the things that their supporters have become accustomed to," Brown said.