CAMBRIDGE – Ben Brown keeps getting better and better.
“This season has been such an improvement from last year. With my current chair, training programs that (coach) Ueli Albert continues to write and sticking to my nutrition program, everything clicked,” the 30-year-old wheelchair racer said July 24.
“We made a few changes this year in the build-up to the races and it paid off. Ueli bringing his bicycle to practices when we were doing intervals of 600 metres to a kilometre made a huge difference in my ability to work in packs and constantly work on top speed every single workout.”
Brown improved his world ranking to finish Top 15 in the world in the T53 class 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m events.
“Last year I was in the Top 20. I made a .49 improvement on my 400-metre, 4.54 seconds in my 800-metre and 16.41 seconds improvement in my 1500-metre,” he said.
The Cambridge resident collected three gold medals at the Canadian Track and Field Championships in Ottawa from July 4-6, winning the 100m, 200m and 400m contests, and clinching a silver medal in the 800m.
“The final day, I went out and blasted out my second fastest 200-metre of the year with a time of 28.26 seconds. To finish the championships, I finished second behind Brent Lakatos, who is No. 1 in the world in this event,” he said.
MORE ON BEN: Ben Brown collects silver medals at Canada Games
Brown improved on all of his times from Ottawa at the close of races hosted in Montreal, Que. July 11.
“This is where the next two years of Canadian championships will be held. It gives me a good idea of what to expect for surface and warm up area,” he said.
He wrapped up the track season with a 100-metre win and two personal bests in Quebec City July 13. He’s particularly proud of the fifth-place finish that resulted in a new personal best in the 800m race (from 1:44.67 to 1:45.16).
“It was one of my best races in my life,” recalled Brown.
“There was two packs. I led the second pack most of the race, lost the lead for about 150 metres, then with 120 metres to go I knew if I wanted to go under 1:45 I had to sprint for the finish in - which I did.”
He’ll switch his focus to training and road races for the remainder of the warm weather, and transition to the roller for the majority of the winter.
“Next year’s goals are simple: crack top eight or ten in my events in the world, podium at Para Pan-American Games in Lima, Peru, which are 13 months away, and make my first world championships next year in Dubai… in November 2019.”
A fundraiser in support of Brown’s racing career will be held at the Berwick Heights Golf Club Aug. 26.
“Big thanks to everyone who supported me this year,” said Brown.
To learn more about how to support the upcoming fundraiser at the golf club, contact Ben Brown via Facebook or e-mail at [email protected].
