The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THEY were college rivals, but now Bahamian quartermiler Chris ‘Fireman’ Brown is teaming up with American Bryan Swarn as business partners to bring an alternative to team uniforms to the Bahamas.

While the company was formed back in 2002, over the past year and-a-half despite the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, Brown and Swarn were working on getting the Phenetix Urban Athletic Wear in the Bahamas, not just for track and field, but all sports.

“They’re just trying to get the name out there,” Brown said. “We want them to be aware that we are coming,” Brown said. “We are online and basically, we are just trying to get into the market in the Bahamas. We have all of the products.” Swarn, who didn’t fare so well as he competed for Georgia Tech against Brown at Norfolk State, said he’s been a fan of the Eleuthera native as he watched the longevity of his career.

But after he retired and reconnected with Brown, Swarn said they began discussing the possibility of launching the products in the Bahamas. He said it was like the good old days on the track.

“I’ve been to the Bahamas and it’s been like a home away from home for me,” Swarn said. “With Chris representing the Bahamas all around the world, I thought it would be a good venture for us.”

Brown, still active as a competitor and now serving as the head coach at Clayton State in Morrow, Georgia, said their goal is to get some of the Bahamian athletes equipped with their products so that others can see what they have to offer.

“We also want to be able to give back to some of the Family Islands once we get started,” said Brown, who has Eleuthera pegged on the list of priorities. “We want to be able to equip athletes and teams with their uniforms.

“We’re not just talking about track and field, but also soccer, golf, tennis, swimming, every sport there is in the country and we even have products for sports that we don’t compete in.”

While Adidas and Puma already have a hold of team outfits in the country and even in the Caribbean, Brown said he’s hoping that through his participation at the highest level at the Olympic Games, he can make Phenetix Urban Athletic Wear the product of choice in the future.

“We just really wanted me to bring something new to the Bahamas and with Chris’ fame for the Bahamas, we will be able to compete on the same level as Nike, Adidas and Puma. That’s why we definitely want to bring it to the Bahamas.”

In the United States of America, Swarn said they have been working with a number of colleges and universities, who are utilizing their products for their team competition.

Among the list are Florida State, South Carolina State, Florida A&M, University of Albany and Georgia Tech. Additionally, Swarn said their products are worn by a number of track clubs throughout the USA, as well as teams in Mexico and in the United Kingdom.

Their products, according to Brown, include track bodysuits, spikes, head and wristbands, socks, backpacks. For the other sports, Brown said they can furnish athletes with whatever gear they need to compete in.

For those persons interested in acquiring information or to purchase items, they can go online at Phenetix.com or any of their social networks for more details.

“We’re really excited that very soon we will be able to officially launch the products in the Bahamas,” said Swarn, who was not able to give a specific date or time yet.

And while he passed up the opportunity to come home to compete in the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships last month for final spots on the team heading to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, Brown assured the Bahamian public that he’s not officially retired yet.

“I should be able to spike up next year in Eugene when the World Championships come on the American soil,” Brown said. “I won’t have to go far for that, so I’m definitely looking to come out and help the guys in the 4 x 400m relay.”