Brown aims for move up SE's 800 meter list

It hasn't come all at once, but Tyson Brown has gradually developed into one of the best 800-meter runners Southeast Missouri State University has ever had.

That according to Southeast track and field coach Joey Haines, who fully expects Brown, a Perryville High School graduate, to continue leaving his mark on the program during his senior season this year.

"The best thing about Tyson is he just gets better every year," said Haines, whose squad recently opened its indoor season. "You love to see seniors close out with great years. A lot of times, when they're freshmen and sophomores, they're hungry and focused. But track is a grind, and when it gets to be their senior year, a lot of times other things become more important.

"It's really sweet when you see a senior ready to have a big year, which I think Tyson is going to do."

You'll get no arguments from Brown, who has his sights set on making his senior season his best yet. In two indoor meets so far, he has a first-place finish in his specialty, but said he knows he'll have plenty more time to make his mark during the rest of the indoor season and the entire outdoor campaign.

"I feel strong and healthy and I'm ready to have my best year," he said.

When Haines says he believes Brown will rank as one of Southeast's top 800-meter men, that's quite a statement. The list of 800 runners is littered with national champions and all-Americans from the school's successful Division II days .

"I'd say the 800 is, top to bottom, the best of all our top 10 lists," Haines said. "But Tyson is right up there and he's one of the better 800 runners we've had."

In fact, the 1:51.39 Brown clocked last season during a meet at Indiana ranks eighth all-time at Southeast. And Haines said Brown can move up that list quite a bit -- if not all the way -- this year. The school record is 1:48.85 and Brown is less than a second out of fourth place.

"I'm not sure Tyson can't threaten all of them," said Haines. "One thing he's lacked is confidence. Non-4A high school athletes, it's just built into your brain you're not as good as others.

"I think Tyson is now realizing how good he can be."

Even though Brown earned 11 Class 3A all-state honors at Perryville High School, he perhaps at one time, as Haines said, did not know just how good he could be -- because he almost didn't even compete on the collegiate level.

"I didn't know if I was going to run coming out of high school," said the soft-spoken Brown, who is majoring in manufacturing engineering technology. "But I came out and did well my freshman year. That gave me momentum to stay with it."

Although Haines believes the best for Brown is still to come, he's already had quite an impressive career for the Indians. Brown won his first individual Ohio Valley Conference championship last spring as he captured the 800 outdoor title, which came on the heels of a narrow runner-up finish in the 800 during last year's indoor season. Brown also has second-place outdoor and third-place indoor finishes to his credit.

"I think I've done pretty well so far, but I want to do even better this year," Brown said.

Brown has definite goals in mind for his senior season. Like Haines, he said he believes he can threaten the school 800 record and he'd like to break the indoor 1,000 mark. In addition, he has his sights on qualifying for the NCAA national meet, which is difficult on the Division I level.

"I think I can go 1:48 as long as I stay healthy," said Brown. "And my goal is always to try and qualify for the NCAAs. I think this is my best chance to do it."

Haines credits Brown with being an extremely hard worker and Brown attributes that to much of his success. As for what he enjoys the most about his sport, competition is the thing.

"It's mostly hard work. There's not much else you can do," he said. "I enjoy the competition, having a goal and trying to reach it."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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