Lyons runs for Lion pride, trains out of season
Tracy Hamilton

Staff Writer

Ever awakened at 6:15 in the morning to run five or six miles to stay in shape?

Well, men s cross country runner, Brian Lyons, performs this daily routine, no matter what type of weather conditions. His coach, Tom Rutledge, gave the team a choice for the past two weeks to run in the mornings, and Lyons chooses to do so. He trains hard every day to be the best - whether practicing with his team, on his own outside of practice, or in the off-season - and he has proven to be the best in the MIAA Conference. Lyons accomplished what few runners can actually do - to be named the 2002 MIAA Conference Champion.

His teammates and his coach are not surprised.

 Brian has had a phenomenal year and has a shot at being an All-American,  Rutledge said.

Lyons  accomplishments are great, but he also has a fan club supporting him through his cross country career - his family. His father attends every meet when possible, along with Lyons  three younger brothers and one sister. His father, a former high school cross country runner, encourages Lyons to do his best.

Since Lyons  high school years, his father reminded him a true runner needs to train outside of the regular season; he or she must also focus on the off-season as well.

Lyons finished as the conference champion and third in state for his high school career in Purdy. Rutledge recruited him to come to Missouri Southern. Lyons could have attended a smaller college and received a scholarship, but he wanted to walk-on to a better program.

 I wanted to be on a more advanced team with a bigger school,  Lyons said.

After coming to Southern, Lyons was not sure what he wanted to major in, but has decided upon environmental health. Having a 3.2 grade-point average and being an athlete is not easy, but Lyons stays on task.

 I think its important to have cross country and school, because it helps keep me focused,  he said.

He is currently unsure of what job he wants to have, but hopes to maybe become a public health officer or work in an environmental engineering company. With his degree, he has many different options. He still has three full semesters to complete at Southern, and plans on taking a trip to New Zealand in the fall of 2003.

Due to a stress fracture in the spring of 2001, he has a spring season of outdoor track remaining. Although he could not run for three months, he decided to come back even stronger and try to improve.