Lyons thrives on challenge
- 09 April 2008
Brynn Lyons, like the rest of the Ephrata High School students, got her academic report card on Tuesday.She said she's maintaining her B-plus average, which is important as she endeavors to study environmental science at Penn State in the fall.
What Lyons neglected to admit was that her athletic report card was even better. She's not just earning all A's, she's earning all raves.
"She's focused and ready to roll,'' said Ephrata head track coach John Keller. "She could be one of the top female athletes in our league meet.''
Right now, Lyons is one of the top female athletes in the L-L League. What makes her different from most other track participants is her exceptional abilities in a wide range of events.
Based on the latest L-L League Honor Roll, she ranks first by more than 14 feet in the javelin, having thrown a personal-best 130-11a-x in Monday's win over Conestoga Valley that kept the Mountaineers undefeated (3-0 Section Two, 4-0 overall) on the year.
She also ranks first in the 400 (60.5) and long jump (16-5). She won L-L gold in the long jump as a sophomore and claimed the javelin title last year when she didn't compete in the long jump.
She is also a returning District Three Class AAA runner-up in the javelin, and Monday's throw would have earned a top-five finish last year at states. She didn't place at the PIAA Championships a year ago.
"I'd like to go to states again,'' Lyons said Tuesday. "Hopefully, our 4-by-4 (1,600 relay) can get another school record. (She teamed with Allison Hunt, Shannon Ream and Devon Bauder to set the mark of 4:09.70 in 2007). I'd really like to be a league champion in more than one event this year.''
All of those things are easily within her reach, as long as she can control hamstring problems that have plagued her.
What she wasn't expected to reach -- at least not this early in the season -- were her dynamic javelin throws.
She said she's hit the 130-range three times, an improvement of over 20 feet from last season. Those are numbers javelin throwers see in mid-to-late May, not early April.
"I wasn't expecting that at all,'' Lyons said of her early success.
It should not have surprised those that have seen her perform over the past four years.
She's one of those gifted all-around athletes who ran cross country and played shooting guard for the Mounts' basketball team.
Track is also in her blood. Her cousin Stephanie won the 3,200 Monday. Her dad (Rick) and uncle (Mike, Stephanie's father) teamed with Jim High and Jeff Hainley to set the Ephrata 3,200 relay record of 8:01.5 in 1976.
Her dad also went to Penn State, so gravitating to State College also came naturally. Trying to compete on the Division I level and in the pentathlon (javelin, shot put, 200, 800, long jump, high jump, high hurdles) will certainly be a challenge.
Lyons thrives on a good challenge.
"I don't like to lose; ever,'' she said. "I've always been really, really competitive.''
So far, she's way beyond the local competition in the javelin.
"She inherently does a lot of things (with the jav) other kids have to work really hard on,'' said Scott Krall, who started a great local throwing camp when he began coaching throwers at Cocalico in 2002. He's been helping a number of area javelin throwers, including Lyons.
In throwing events, positioning of the body creates power, which in turn creates distance, and Lyons has a nice long pull in the jav.
"She keeps her upper body relaxed and lets her legs work for her,'' said Krall. "That's what really separates her in the jav.''
What separates her from most other athletes is a unique combination of speed, strength and endurance, coupled with her willingness to try almost any (or every) event.
She may even do the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in Thursday's nonleague meet against Donegal.
"She's a very smart kid with some very lofty goals,'' said Keller. "I don't think even she knows how good she can be.''
She's already at the head of the class and is grading out quite nicely.
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