Clearwater Central Catholic senior runs hard, works hard and is heading to Harvard.
By BOB PUTNAM
Published June 25, 2003
Sprinting down the back stretch at University of Florida's Percy Beard Stadium in May, Kevin Lyons was far enough ahead of the pack to know the gold medal in the 3,200 meters would belong to him.
The Clearwater Central Catholic senior, who won his final high school race in a personal-best 9 minutes, 23.84 seconds, extended his arms as he crossed the finish line and smiled with a glow that lifted the air around him.
It was a moment of unfiltered joy for a state title he finally could embrace.
Lyons got an even bigger payoff a few weeks later when his parents, Gary and Pat, decided to send him on a weeklong cruise through the Caribbean with his fellow graduates.
This was Lyons' chance to unwind. The only time he needed to run was from the buffet table to the pool, and the only studying required was of tourist maps.
He relaxed for one day.
It had been 10 days since Lyons' last workout. That was too long for him. So while his friends were sleeping, Lyons got up one morning, headed to the top of the cruise ship and ran. And ran. And ran.
"I tried to go about five miles," Lyons said. "It was just something I felt I had to do. I almost feel guilty when I don't run."
For the past four years, Lyons woke up at 5 a.m. and ran five miles along the Pinellas Trail. After school, he would run some more with his cross country and track teammates.
"I would run close 70 miles a week," Lyons said. "I know that's a lot, but I never wanted to say that I didn't put in the work."
Lyons fulfilled his school work and extracurricular activities with the same efficiency. He took advanced placement classes, volunteered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters and was president of the National Honor Society.
"I applied the same discipline I had with running to my school work," Lyons said. "It was difficult at times, but I managed."
For Lyons to do well in both, he could concentrate on one at a time. That meant homework had to wait until late at night.
"I know Kevin would sometimes go to bed at 1 a.m., then get up at 5 and run," Gary Lyons said.
With boundless energy and minimal sleep, Lyons ended up with a lengthy honor roll of academic and athletic accomplishments. He was the state runner-up in cross country, scored 1,320 on his SAT, carried a 4.2 weighted GPA and was one of 24 student-athletes named to the Florida High School Activities Association's Academic All-State Team.
A student-athlete with an emphasis on student, Lyons turned down scholarship offers from other Division I schools to go to Harvard because he wanted to attend a college for its academic reputation.
Lyons reports to school in August and will run cross country in the fall. He already is preparing for college life the only way he knows how.
