Brazier expects fast result in first outdoor 600m attempt at Continental Tour Gold

Photo: facebook.com/donavan.brazier800

Reigning world 800m champion Donavan Brazier will attempt the rarely-contested 600m distance for the first time outdoors on Wednesday when the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting moves to Székesfehérvár, Hungary.

“It’s great that we get an opportunity to do a 600m. Once you get to the global stage like this it’s hard to get competitions like this,” the American runner told World Athletics’ official website.

Fresh from a Monaco Diamond League victory over his specialist distance as international athletics returned last week after a long hiatus brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Brazier’s good form makes him hopeful of challenging the 1:12.81 world 600m record set by his former coach Johnny Gray.

Although the 23-year-old noted that he “didn’t really think about the record at all,” he admitted a fast result could be expected with a strong rival in Wesley Vazquez of Puerto Rico.

“I think with Wesley in there it will definitely be a great race,” he said. “The race will go out plenty fast. The race will take care of itself with the guys in the field.

“But before a race I just think about winning every time. But with Wesley in there, it’s definitely a good opportunity to run fast.”

Brazier finished the indoor 600m in 1:13.77 in 2019, making him among the 10 runners with a sub-1:14 performance.