Darden had a very successful track career for his high school, Norristown High, Pennsylvania; for his university,Arizona State;[1][2] and for his track club, Philadelphia Pioneers.
At high school, Darden won multiple state championships and achieved national fame by recording national indoor records at 300 and 500 yards.[3]
At Arizona State University, Darden was a key member of the track team, competing in the sprints and sprint relay, and helped the team to their firstNCAA Championship in 1977.[4] Also in 1977, Darden was a member of two Arizona State record-breaking relay teams. The first tied the 4x220 yards world best with a time of 1:21.7 in Austin, Texas on April 1 at theTexas Relays. The second broke the world record for the 4×200 metres with a time of 1:21.4 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 30 at thePenn Relays.[5][6]
In 1979, Darden having finished second at theUSA championships (see below) qualified for thePan American Games.Willie Smith, as American No. 1, was expected to be the main rival to the legendary Cuban athleteAlberto Juantorena. In the end a foot injury and a problem with a shoe put paid to his chances, and it was an inspired piece of running by Darden that meant it was he who was to beat Juantorena into second.[7][8]
Darden finished third in 400 m at the1979 Athletics World Cup and anchored the United States 4 × 400 m relay team to victory. Darden received some criticism for his run in the individual event but ran a superb relay leg to redeem his reputation.[9]
Darden never ran in an Olympics. As a high-school student he reached the quarter-finals at theUnited States Olympic Trials in 1976. In 1980 though he finished fifth and so qualified for the 4 × 400 m relay squad but theUnited States boycotted the 1980 Olympics.[13]
Darden set his personal best (45.01) in the 400 metres on June 21, 1981, inSacramento.
Darden was ranked among the best in the US and the world in the 400 m sprint from 1977 to 1982, according to the votes of the experts ofTrack and Field News.[18][19]
In 2007, Darden was inducted into thePenn Relays 'Wall of Fame'.[21]
Darden had already been inducted into the Penn Relays "Relays’ Wall of Fame" in 1994 as a member of the winning 1977 Arizona State University 4 × 400 m relay team.[22]
In 1989, Darden, along with the rest of the members of the 1977 sprint relay teams, was inducted into the Arizona State University Hall of Fame.[23]
In 1990, Darden was inducted into the Norristown Area School District Hall of Champions.[24]
