| Copyright © 2008 Ed Bagley | | | | with the likes of Chris Lewis or Matt Davis. |
| | | | |
| Gonzaga University Athletic Director Mike | | | | Tyson's harrier squads posted an amazing dual |
| Roth made the most astute move since the | | | | meet record of 145-6 in cross-country |
| hiring of Mark Few as his basketball coach by | | | | competition. No slouch himself, Tyson |
| recently hiring legendary high school coach | | | | competed with Steve "Pre" Prefontaine at the |
| Pat Tyson as Gonzaga's first full-time | | | | University of Oregon and clocked a 13:37 in |
| running coach. | | | | the 3-mile and a 28:34 in the 6-mile. He was |
| | | | a walk-on after graduating from Lincoln High |
| Roth could not have found a better choice | | | | School in Tacoma (WA). |
| than Tyson, who has not yet had a full-time | | | | |
| opportunity to run a complete college | | | | Tyson was Pre's roommate at Oregon, but far |
| cross-country and track and field program. | | | | more important, he was a member of the 1971 |
| | | | Duck cross-country team that won the NCAA |
| Tyson just completed the spring season as the | | | | national championship. |
| track coach for South Eugene High School in | | | | |
| Oregon. He spent last season coaching the | | | | The spillover effect of Tyson's personality, |
| cross-country teams and distance runners at | | | | accessibility and passion for running |
| the University of Kentucky. | | | | positively influenced Mead runners and |
| | | | brought students into the program that may |
| Apparently his coaching methods did not go | | | | otherwise have never been involved in |
| over as well in the south as in the Pacific | | | | athletics. Students who also might have |
| Northwest, where he built a sterling | | | | played other sports only to ride the bench |
| reputation for success in Eastern Washington | | | | came into Tyson's program because they could |
| at Mead High School. In 19 years-from 1986 | | | | compete rather than watch their teammates |
| through 2004-Tyson's Panthers produced 12 | | | | win. |
| state cross-country titles, 9 individual | | | | |
| cross-country champions, and 17 individual | | | | Tyson's philosophy and system became |
| track middle distance champions at 1,600 and | | | | infectious in the Greater Spokane League. A |
| 3,200 meters. | | | | league that had done well spawned other teams |
| | | | that won state titles when Mead did not. |
| To show how dominate Mead was, I was near the | | | | Beginning in 1988 with the first of Tyson's |
| finish line at the 1993 state cross-country | | | | 12 Mead cross-country championships, the |
| meet in Pasco (WA) when the Panthers made a | | | | Greater Spokane League has won EVERY 4A |
| statement in the 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) | | | | championship since then. |
| like nothing I have ever seen in state | | | | |
| competition. First across the line was Matt | | | | The fact that Pat Tyson is returning to the |
| Davis in 14:09.3 , followed by his brother | | | | Great Pacific Northwest to coach at Gonzaga |
| Micah Davis in 14:46, followed by Rob Aubrey | | | | University is great news for prep runners in |
| in third at 14:48, then Greg James finished | | | | Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Great high |
| 8th in 15:13.9 and Skiy De Tray finished 28th | | | | school runners will follow Tyson to Gonzaga |
| in 15:43. Matt Davis set a course record and | | | | like bees to honey. |
| won this third consecutive state | | | | |
| cross-country title. | | | | Pat Tyson does not only eat, sleep and live |
| | | | running 24 hours a day, he is not only a high |
| Mead runners in blue and gold streamed past | | | | school coach with no peer, he is a coaching |
| in a 1-2-3-8-28 finish and won with 31 | | | | legend before he starts. Gonzaga is about to |
| points. Mead's slowest scoring runner was | | | | make an impact in running like it did in |
| 15:43! It was the year that Mead won its 6th | | | | basketball. |
| straight title under Pat Tyson's reign. | | | | |
| Kennewick finished as runner-up with 102 | | | | Read my articles on "Want a Six-Figure Income |
| points. | | | | Without Getting a College Degree of Any Kind? |
| | | | Here Is How", "The Biggest Mistake Potential |
| Mead's all-time record holder for the 1,600 | | | | Hires Make While Interviewing for a Job" and |
| and 3,200 is Chris Lewis, who set the marks | | | | "Before You Interview, Learn and Practice |
| in 1989 by running 4:04.6 and 8:50.65. Not | | | | Ed's "Zip a Lip" Theory". |
| many schools have runners who could keep up | | | | |