Russell Wolf Brown
Encyclopedia
Russell Wolf Brown is an American
professional athlete who competes in the 1 mile and 1500 meter events.
, Brown began running Track events at age ten. He attended Hanover High School
where he initially played lacrosse, soccer, and ice hockey. In his sophomore year he was recruited by the cross country team. He began to focus exclusively on running after being impressed with the mature attitudes toward competition that he saw on the track team. In his junior year he was the New Hampshire individual class intermediate cross country state champion. The next year he won the New England 600 meter indoor title and finished third at the 2003 U.S. Junior National Championships. He also set the New Hampshire State high school record for the 800 meter race. In the spring of his senior year, during the state championship meet against all other Class I schools in New Hampshire, Brown won the 400, the 800, the mile, and the two mile events.
in 2003 as a redshirt
freshman. A political science major at Stanford, Brown later earned a Master's degree in Sociology
. Brown competed in the IAAF World Junior Championships in 2004, finishing fifth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:49.02.
He saw limited success in the 1,500 meter event in his first two years of competition with Stanford. He reached the 1,500 meter final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2005 and in 2006 he finished second in the 1,500 meters at the 2006 Pacific 10 Championships. He performed better indoors, placing third at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
indoor mile event in 2005 before winning the event in 2006. In 2007 Brown finished third in the 1,500 meter event at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships and won the 1,500 meter Pac–10 Championship. That year he also placed second in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
. Brown represented the United States at the 2008 World Championships in Valencia, Spain where he finished seventh in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:47.19. He competed in the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials
, but did not qualify for the Olympics. He hopes to qualify for the 2012 Olympics
, however. The next two seasons he saw limited success due to persistent injuries to his calf muscle.
The next season proved to be Brown's most successful as a professional. Before the season, he dealt with his injuries by taking extra time off and doing strengthening drills. He won the one-mile event at the Falmouth Road Race
August 2010, beating Olympic Silver medalist Nick Willis
. In February 2011 Brown finished first in the mile race at the New Balance Boston Indoor Grand Prix, defeating favorites Willis and Alan Webb
in a personal best time of three minutes and fifty-four seconds. He broke Steve Scott's stadium record at the Mt. SAC Relays
in April, running 3:35.70 minutes for the 1500 m.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional athlete who competes in the 1 mile and 1500 meter events.
Early life and high school
Raised in Hanover, New HampshireHanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
, Brown began running Track events at age ten. He attended Hanover High School
Hanover High School (New Hampshire)
Hanover High School is the only public high school in the Dresden School District, in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. In 1963 it became the first interstate high school in the country as part of a bill that was the last ever signed into action by John F. Kennedy. Today it accepts students from...
where he initially played lacrosse, soccer, and ice hockey. In his sophomore year he was recruited by the cross country team. He began to focus exclusively on running after being impressed with the mature attitudes toward competition that he saw on the track team. In his junior year he was the New Hampshire individual class intermediate cross country state champion. The next year he won the New England 600 meter indoor title and finished third at the 2003 U.S. Junior National Championships. He also set the New Hampshire State high school record for the 800 meter race. In the spring of his senior year, during the state championship meet against all other Class I schools in New Hampshire, Brown won the 400, the 800, the mile, and the two mile events.
College
Brown entered Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 2003 as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
freshman. A political science major at Stanford, Brown later earned a Master's degree in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
. Brown competed in the IAAF World Junior Championships in 2004, finishing fifth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:49.02.
He saw limited success in the 1,500 meter event in his first two years of competition with Stanford. He reached the 1,500 meter final at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in 2005 and in 2006 he finished second in the 1,500 meters at the 2006 Pacific 10 Championships. He performed better indoors, placing third at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation
The Mountain Pacific Sports Federation is a college athletic conference whose member teams are located in the western United States. The conference participates at the NCAA Division I level.-History:...
indoor mile event in 2005 before winning the event in 2006. In 2007 Brown finished third in the 1,500 meter event at the 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships and won the 1,500 meter Pac–10 Championship. That year he also placed second in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Professional career
In February 2008 Brown became a professional. He soon joined the Oregon Track ClubOregon Track Club
The Oregon Track Club is a running organization based in Eugene, Oregon. Shortened to OTC, the Oregon Track Club has a long history at the pinnacle of American track and field...
. Brown represented the United States at the 2008 World Championships in Valencia, Spain where he finished seventh in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:47.19. He competed in the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
, but did not qualify for the Olympics. He hopes to qualify for the 2012 Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
, however. The next two seasons he saw limited success due to persistent injuries to his calf muscle.
The next season proved to be Brown's most successful as a professional. Before the season, he dealt with his injuries by taking extra time off and doing strengthening drills. He won the one-mile event at the Falmouth Road Race
Falmouth Road Race
The Falmouth Road Race is an annual 7-mile road race on Cape Cod from Woods Hole, a village in the town of Falmouth, Massachusetts, to Falmouth Heights.-History:...
August 2010, beating Olympic Silver medalist Nick Willis
Nick Willis
Nicholas Ian Willis MNZM is a New Zealand middle distance runner. He won the silver medal in the 1500m at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing with a time of 3:34.16 minutes. He was a gold medallist in the 1500 metres at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and a bronze medallist at the 2010...
. In February 2011 Brown finished first in the mile race at the New Balance Boston Indoor Grand Prix, defeating favorites Willis and Alan Webb
Alan Webb (athlete)
Alan Webb is an American athlete. He holds the American record in the mile, with a time of 3:46.91. He competes professionally for Nike.-High school:...
in a personal best time of three minutes and fifty-four seconds. He broke Steve Scott's stadium record at the Mt. SAC Relays
Mt. SAC Relays
The Mt. SAC Relays are an annual track and field festival held primarily at Hilmer Lodge Stadium on the Mt. San Antonio College campus in Walnut, California. The relays, held in April each year, were started by then track coach Hilmer Lodge in 1959. The meet attracts all levels and disciplines of...
in April, running 3:35.70 minutes for the 1500 m.