The dream of British sprinter Daryll Neita was shattered when she missed the podium twice at the Paris Olympics 2024. She finished fourth in the 100m and fifth in the 200m. Being so close and losing is a different kind of pain, but unlike many others who get disheartened, Neita embarked on a new journey. She is all set to be a part of the Grand Slam Track, which is being held in April in Jamaica. She will be running for both 100m and 200m categories with a confidence that is oozing out, showcasing her never-back-down approach. But do you know where this motivation comes from? It is none other than her coach, Lance Brauman.
Initially, Neita was getting training from the Padova-based sprint training group led by coach Marco Airale. But in January, with a hope of a rebound on the track, she moved to Florida to be a part of Brauman’s coaching group. So, let us take a closer look at Brauman and his journey, which encouraged Neita to take such a bold step.
Who is Lance Brauman?
Lance Brauman is the sprint trainer who cracked out world champs like Wayde van Niekerk and Noah Lyles. His track roots run deep. His dad, Ken Brauman, is a Florida high school legend who has been coaching since 1983 and led Team USA’s 2012 Olympic squad.
However, when it comes to Lance, he started his career as an Auburn University assistant coach in 1994; he leveled up at Barton County Community College, molding future stars before landing at Arkansas—where he first trained Tyson Gay.
However, his career hit a massive plot twist when, in 2006, he was jailed for embezzlement, mail fraud, and theft. He had to lose his job as a trainer. Yet Brauman bounced back hard, reuniting with Gay post-release and guiding him to a 2007 World 100m title. That same year, he launched PURE Athletics with Adidas, building a sprint empire that’s now stacked 21 Olympic medals and 35 global championship podiums.
Brauman’s career highlights and achievements
Lance Brauman is the architect behind PURE Athletics, the Florida-based sprinting empire he launched in 2007 that’s now a global track powerhouse. This elite club has churned out superstars like Noah Lyles (world champion), Wayde van Niekerk (400m world record holder), and breakout stars Udodi Onwuzurike and Nick Mayhugh. But Brauman’s genius was clear long before PURE—he first made waves as the University of Arkansas’ head coach (2002–2006), where he snagged four NCAA team titles and built a sprint program feared nationwide.
Before dominating the NCAA, Brauman transformed a humble junior college program into a sprint factory, coaching multiple NJCAA champions and proving his knack for spotting raw talent. His roster reads like a track Hall of Fame: women’s stars Gina Luckenkemper (European sprint medalist) and Junelle Bromfield (Olympic relay finalist), plus men’s phenoms like Kendall Williams (world relay gold), Jereem Richards (world indoor champ), and rising teen sprint sensation Jaylan Slade. His championship legacy includes 21 Olympic medals, 35 World Outdoor Championship medals, and 7 World Indoor Championship medals. Thus, we can say that whether shaping future Olympians or smashing records, Brauman’s legacy is pure speed.
Why Daryll Neita switched to Lance Brauman?
Neita was trained earlier under Rana Reider, a leading track and field coach who guided several Olympic and world champions to glory. Apart from Neita, some of his trainers were Tokyo 2020 Olympic 200m gold medalist Andre de Grasse and the world triple jump champion Christian Taylor.
However, in 2021, his behavior came under scrutiny by the US Center for SafeSport for se**al misconduct. Neita faced pressure to give up training under him in 2021 when the allegations surfaced, risking her UK Athletics funding. She later shifted to a Padova-based sprint training group led by coach Marco Airale. However, after losing at the Paris Olympics in 2024, she shifted to PURE athletics.
At PURE, Daryll Neita now grinds alongside icons like Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson, betting on Brauman’s reputation for turning raw speed into podium gold.
The post Who Is Daryll Neita’s Coach? Everything to Know About Her Switch to Lance Brauman appeared first on EssentiallySports.
