Running career Keith Brantly

1 running career

1.1 high school (1976-1980)
1.2 college (1980-1986)
1.3 after college (1986-1998)

running career
high school (1976-1980)

when brantly @ winter haven high school in 1976, joined cross-country team, coached buck dawson. dawson member of morehead state university hall of fame later went coach high school cross-country , track in 1979 guided 2 runners future olympians. when brantly’s running career soared individual in fall of senior year during cross-country season, dawson saw potential held. brantly , 1 of memorable competitors, basil magee largo high school, challenged each other in multiple encounters such 1979 astronaut invitational , 1979 winter haven invitational, brantly falling seconds behind magee in both encounters. towards seasons end, there 2 teams preparing battle @ cross-country state championships in deland, florida, largo high school , astronaut high school. while, brantly preparing title champion. in florida class 4a high school state cross country championships, brantly (14:18) took lead defeated magee (14:30) in rigorous 5 thousand meter footrace. throughout remainder of senior year, brantly , magee grew closer in ability , competitiveness carried spring track season. in 1980, brantly go florida class 4a high school state track championships , win 2-mile event in time of 9:13. brantly , magee’s competitive relationship did not stop @ state level, @ national level magee (9:02) outkick brantly (9:03) @ 2-mile postal meet win.

1979 - florida class 4a high school state cross country champion (14:18)
1980 - florida class 4a high school track , field 2 mile champion (9:13)

college (1980-1986)

brantly attended university of florida in gainesville, florida, run collegiate cross-country , track under coach john randolph. college student athlete, naturally, easy distracted , lazy brantly said. randolph helped instill discipline lacked. during time gator, brantly continued thrive runner winning 2 southeastern conference (sec) 10,000 meter championships. in interview explains these no easy feat, “the university of florida places high emphasis on sec winning big deal.” winning @ level played huge role in running career because later aid him in quest olympic team.

1982 - sec 10,000 m champion (30:18.23)
1982 - 5th place in 2 mile @ ncaa indoor championships (8:49.92)
1983 - sec 10,000 m champion (29:48.1)
1983 - 5th place in 10,000 m @ ncaa championships (29:45.95)
1983 - sec cross country champion
1984 - 7th place in 10,000 m @ ncaa championships (28:39.82)

after college (1986-1998)

following collegiate career florida gators, mentored david martin compiled knowledge transform him “from talented runner seasoned competitor” brantly said. competitive spirit , love sport continued push him further distances. furthest distances competed in before 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters , eighteen-mile training run. brantly run first marathon (2:20:35) in honolulu, hawaii, , found training distance alone challenge in itself. in 1993 new york city marathon, brantly (2:12:51) continued improve placing fifth behind elite marathoners. in 1994 boston marathon (2:13:00), trained finish in top 5 fell behind @ halfway point, finishing twentieth.

with years of experience , failing make united states olympic team twice in previous years, brantly’s drive make team in 1996 main focus. @ 1996 olympic trials marathon, brantly used previous failed attempts , knowledge new york , boston marathons strategize making team. “my strategy @ 1996 trials sit back, draft , stay warm until final 3 players became clear.” brantly said. paul zimmerman led race until fifteen mile marker bob kempainen, mark coogan, , keith brantly take control final 10,000 meters. brantly finish in time of 2:13:22 placing third , locking him olympic team. @ 1996 summer olympic games in atlanta, georgia, brantly gathered thoughts , strategies biggest stage athlete can compete on. finished representing united states in time of 2:18:27 placing twenty-eighth.