KERI BROWN PHOTO GALLERY
KUTZTOWN, Pa. (May 24, 2011) – After a race during her sophomore year in high school, Keri Brown (Southampton, N.J./Seneca)'s track coach at the time, Rich Watson said to her: “Keri, you're like the bomb! You're going to be something special!”
“I had amazing coaches in high school: Karen O'Neil, Fran Siedlecki, and Rich Watson,” Brown said. “They always believed in me and told me that the sky was the limit for me and that I had talent.”
Fast forward seven years later and Watson's prophecy has come true. Brown is a special person concluding a fantastic collegiate career by competing in her second consecutive NCAA Division II Track and Field women's national championship meet at California State University-Stanislaus' Al Brenda Track Complex in Turlock (Calif.). Brown will compete in the 1,500-meter race on Thursday, May 26 at 5:40 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.
Joining Brown in California will be senior Cristina Reimer (Chester Springs/Downingtown East), who will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, also on Thursday night, and senior Justin Germani, who will be in the pole vault on Saturday afternoon.
That Brown will be visiting California for the first time in her life and competing later this week is a testament to the persuasive powers of her former high school track and field teammates. To understand Brown's career, you have to rewind to the beginning. Brown only went out for track to stay in shape between soccer and lacrosse seasons.
“Originally in high school I lived for these two sports,” Brown said. “I always looked at the track and cross country teams and was like, 'Really? They run for fun? Who does that?' Little did I know, I was going to turn into one of those people later on down the road. Then during my junior year of winter track, our sprint medley team qualified for the Nike Indoor National meet in Landover, Maryland. My team and I were really excited about this opportunity; however, if I continued to do lacrosse, we wouldn't have been able to go Indoor Nike Nationals because nationals ran into the spring season.”
That's when her teammates made their pitch.
“My team was begging me to give up lacrosse so we could go to nationals,” Brown said. “After a long time, and a lot of convincing, they changed me from a lacrosse player into a spring track runner. I had so much fun doing spring track that year and I absolutely loved the girls and guys on the track teams, that they somehow convinced me to give up soccer and try out cross country my senior year of high school. I never thought I would be one of those people who ran all year long. However, I did and I loved it.”
Brown is one of the best ever to come through Kutztown University. She holds outdoor school records in the 1,500-meter run (4:31.05) and 3,000-meter run (9:55.58). In addition, Brown earned a NCAA Division II championship provisional mark in the 800-meter run (2:12.85). She finished fifth in the 800-meter run at the PSAC championships. She helped Kutztown finish third overall for the second straight year at the PSAC championships.
During the indoor season, Brown earned All-America honors as a member of the distance medley relay team. She was a member of the first relay in school history to earn All-America honors. Brown earned All-PSAC honors as she placed third and set a school record in the 1-mile run (4:59.02). She also established a school record in the 1,000-meter run (2:57.46) at Bucknell. Brown was a member of the school record distance medley relay team that set the standard of 11:51.55 at the Boston University Invitational.
“It's pretty neat to know that I have broken some very old records,” Brown said. “However, a record is just a record and I know that it will eventually be broken. I hope these records help motivate the future and current Kutztown Track and Field members and I hope their goal is to break some of my records. I am excited to see what the future holds for KU track and I will definitely be back to visit and to check on my records. I feel honored and very fortunate to have been able to be a part of this historic time.”
Now, Brown is focused on wrapping up her career with a bang. She learned a lot from last year's tough experience in Charlotte. Brown was slightly intimidated last year as she competed in the 1,500 and 800-meter runs. This season, Brown's confidence is higher. She's stronger, better, faster, and determined.
“Although last year was rough, it was a great learning experience,” Brown said. “I was very intimidated and I felt like I didn't belong at nationals with all of these 'fast girls' last year. This year I have realized that I am one of those 'fast girls' and that I have nothing to be scared about. I belong at this meet, I can do well at this meet, and I believe it this year. There is no other place I would rather end my running years at than at nationals in Cali and I am so thankful I have the opportunity to do this with two great teammates.”
Brown graduated May 7 with a degree in elementary education. She will be missed as she moves into the next phase of her life. Once she returns from California, Brown plans to relax briefly as she applies for elementary teaching jobs. She will spend plenty of time down the shore and out in her family's boat on Long Beach Island. She also plans to run in a lot of road races and possibly doing a mud run or triathlon.
“Every single meet has its own story and I will definitely miss competing and the entire college running world,” Brown said. “However, I believe the best part of my career at Kutztown has been the time I have spent with my teammates and coaches, and the friendships I have made. The friendships I have made through this team will last a lifetime, and I know it. They are the reason my career at Kutztown has been so special and the reason it is so hard to say goodbye. Running has been a very unique learning experience for me and has taught me so much about myself. I am a stronger person because of running. I have learned that dreams really do come true with persistence.”
--KU--
