Aaron Brown says improved execution, confidence was key to Diamond League Final success

Hours following his spectacular season-ending performance Thursday evening on the track at the Diamond League Final in Zurich, Aaron Brown talked about his soaring confidence.

It began to grow, the veteran Canadian sprinter said, late in the season when he was competitive with 18-year-old phenom Erriyon Knighton and his American teammate Marvin Bracy, who were world championship medallists in July.

Brown finished second to Knighton in the 100 metres in Lucerne, Switzerland, and earlier in August in a 200 race in Hungary while placing third behind Knighton at Diamond League Brussels on Sept. 2. Two days later, he won the 100 in Padova, Italy, edging Bracy by 1-100th of a second.

A healthy and fit Brown showed improved execution in those races and believed a top-three finish in the sprint double was realistic this week at the Weltklasse Zürich track and field meet after placing fourth in the 200 at the Diamond League Final in 2017, 2018, 2019 and last year.

The Toronto native figured many would count him out on Thursday when he was assigned Lane 8 on the outside for the 100 and inside in Lane 2 for the 200 one hour later at Letzigrund Stadium.

"Those aren't favourable lanes," he said. "But I knew I was feeling good and had the ability to challenge for top spots if I executed the way I knew how."

Brown said he "ran blind" in the 100, not knowing his positioning against the competition throughout the race. He finished strong in third behind winner Trayvon Bromell (9.94 seconds) and Yohan Blake (10.05) in 10.06 to match a season best from the heats and semifinals at worlds in Eugene, Ore., where he was eighth in the final.

WATCH | Brown 3rd in his 1st 100-metre race at Diamond League Final:

In a more loaded 200, Brown