Tyson’s winning pace leaves lasting imprint

Empirical evidence would suggest that Spokane’s cross country pedigree was long established before Pat Tyson became coach at Mead. Four of the first five titles – and seven of 10 overall – were won by Greater Spokane League schools when the state meet began as an invitational in 1959. When it officially became a WIAA event, six other Spokane-area teams, large or small, won state championships BT (Before Tyson), a period of 29 years.

But there’s no argument that since his arrival what Spokane-area schools have done is remarkable. GSL cross country to the rest of the state is akin to comparing Home Run Baker with Babe Ruth.

Beginning in 1988 with the first of Tyson’s 12 Mead championships, area teams large and small have brought home 27 more. The GSL alone has won every 4A championship since then, a run of 18 straight.

How will the GSL carry on following Tyson’s departure to the University of Kentucky?

“Let’s face it, his legacy is immense,” said Matt Sullivan, who won two state titles while coaching at 2A Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls). “For all intents and purposes, he put Spokane cross country on the map.”

Tyson not only set the standard others followed, but was evangelical in his promotion of the sport. He willingly shared all that he knew and believed with colleagues and runners.

“I can only speak for myself, obviously,” said former Rogers coach Steve Kiesel, now Tyson’s successor at Mead, “but for me he was a tremendous influence and role model.”

Mead’s successes bubbled over into a combined six state titles at University and Ferris, and all the top-four trophies and individual medals other GSL and smaller schools have earned during the past 18 seasons.

Sullivan said that he borrowed Tyson’s summer workout regimen and traveled to meets where Mead ran during his title years so that the Tyson magic might rub off on his runners.

“You know what impressed me?” said Sullivan. “Eighty kids on a team. There were kids who should have been out for football running in 75th place and still chugging along. He was able to inspire people.”

No matter where Tyson or someone clad in Mead cross country attire was, people would come up and want to talk.

“It was weird,” said a former Mead star Yukon Degenhart.

Degenhart, who ran at Clemson and is now a middle school coach in the Mead district, was a member of the first three Panthers championship teams.

“Part of it,” he said, “was that you bought into his system. We were his family.”

That system was simple, said Degenhart: It was a bunch of guys who liked to run, were willing to train consistently and who liked hanging out together. They’d gather to watch movies, go out for breakfast and yogurt runs. It would attract guys who wouldn’t have otherwise come out to eventually become good.

It led to incomparable success, yet Tyson did not necessarily have some deeper insight into training. Kiesel contends that Tyson merely brought to GSL cross country (after winning state titles at Shorecrest in 1984 and ‘85) something that had previously been imbued during Spokane’s cross country infancy.

“He brought back that old style of training that emphasized two-times-a-day running,” said Kiesel. “It kind of went away for a while. Pat brought that back.”

His willingness to share his ideas created a tight-knit coaching fraternity that has helped perpetuate success in a sport that is the envy of people throughout the state.

Therefore, even though there are six first- or second-year coaches in the league this year, Kiesel doesn’t see things changing in area distance running. There are enough veteran coaches, including Mike Hadway of current three-time defending state champion Ferris, to accept Tyson’s torch and pass their knowledge on to the newcomers.

But Tyson will obviously be missed. He was one of a kind, a distance running Pied Piper whose personality, passionate advocacy and national cachet will be hard to replace.

His nine successive state cross country titles, from 1988 through 1996, may never be surpassed.