BOSTON (June 28, 2016) — Breakout middle-distance star Donavan Brazier will make his professional debut Friday at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, OR. after entering into an   endorsement agreement with Nike.

One of the most exciting American track stars of this generation, the newly crowned NCAA 800-meter champion is currently the third-fastest man in the world this year over 800 meters, his time of 1:43.55 making him the eighth-fastest American in history. Brazier is the youngest man ever to win an NCAA 800-meter outdoor title, and the first freshman to do so since 1988 Olympic Champion Paul Ereng.

Brazier blitzed a trail of success this year as a true freshman at Texas A&M University, shattering the indoor U.S. junior record for 800 meters by running 1:45.93, nearly two seconds faster than the mark set by John Marshall in 1982.

Outdoors, Brazier ran a string of personal bests, starting in April and leading up to the NCAA Championships in early June. In the final there, he pulled away in the homestretch to win the title in an NCAA and American Junior Record of 1:43.55. Both marks had been held by the legendary Jim Ryun for exactly 50 years.

“This whole season has been unbelievable, and I can’t put into words what it means to me to run so fast and win the NCAA Championships as a freshman,” said Brazier. “I can’t thank my coaches and teammates at Texas A&M, my parents and all my friends and family enough for all their guidance and support. Nike is such a huge supporter of track in America and I’m incredibly grateful to them for the opportunity to continue my career as a professional and see where this journey takes me.”