A Sports View: Chris Brown Has Arrived!

But, he could not make the significant breakthrough in the individual one-lapper.

It was at the very same 2005 World Championships though that he sent out a signal that his time was soon to come. Despite the horrific lane No. 8 placement that relegated him to the rabbit of the pack among all of those great runners, he ran a most courageous race and almost carted away the bronze medal, losing it to Canada's Tyler Christopher (whom he would avenge at a later date).

In March of 2006, he traveled to Moscow with the rest of the Bahamian team and captured the bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships (Christine Amertil won a bronze there as well).

He was thus poised to succeed in the individual event at the Commonwealth Games, a week later. However it was not to be. He got edged out of the medal group again.

Then, there was the disaster of the relay debacle when the demons went to work and caused Avard Moncur to somehow loop the baton across the track. Brown therefore got no hardware at all. The rest of the season was an even greater disaster. He started out ranked No. 2 in the world behind Wariner and ended the season out of the rankings.

But, he kept his spirit up. His coach, Steve Riddick, insisted that the Eleuthera native was "just fine' and would show the world something in 2007.

Well, Riddick is somewhat of a track and field prophet.

The year 2007 is upon us. Brown came home in June, regained the national championship in his event and prepared for the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This past week, just as Riddick had said, he showed the world. With emphasis, he made a statement.

Chris Brown has arrived at that point whereby he has become more than just an explosive relay runner. In Rio, he was clearly the class of the 400 metres field, although Wariner did not compete for the USA. He got his revenge against the Canadian Christopher, by easily outdistancing him to win the gold medal. Brown finished in a comfortable 44.85 that could have easily been a very low 44-seconds clocking had he been pushed.

His mastery of the one-lap final and the presence of Moncur who has regain some of his prime form, made The Bahamas the favourite nation to capture the 1600 relay. Andre Williams, Moncur, Micheal Mathieu and Brown did not disappoint. On Saturday, Brown virtually cruised his anchor leg of 44.83 for another gold for the Bahamas in 3:01.94. His country would end up with two gold, two silver and two bronze. Brown was the big man in the gold medal performances.

Now, the next version of the International Association of Athletics Federations' World Outdoor Championships is right around the corner, late August in Osaka, Japan. Wariner, Christopher, the top European runners and the rest of the world's best will be there.

For sure, they will be looking at Bahamian Chris Brown a little differently this time around.

They know now that he is much more than just a great relay runner.

Chris Brown has finally taken that ultimate step.

He is now a threat to beat anybody in the world, including Wariner.

He might not, but certainly he is at that point and they know he has what it takes to do it.

Congratulations Chris Brown. May you continue to show the world that you are just as lethal in the open 400 metres as is the case on the 'anchor' leg.

Meanwhile, kudos are due also for two Bahamians at different points in their careers. Laverne Eve, at 42, captured a fourth Pan American Games javelin medal, this time a bronze.

In men's high jump, Donald Thomas captured his first international medal, a silver.

Eve will probably continue to defy aging for another two years or so, surely she will be there in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics. And so, barring an injury, will be Thomas. He is the world leader in the high jump at 2.35 metres and the abundance of potential wrapped up in this young Grand Bahamian speaks to many years ahead at the pinnacle of the event.