The Tyrone track and field team has been busy rewriting the record books in several events this season.

One of the most impressive individual accomplishments of the season was set by senior Brady Ronan, who broke the second-oldest standing record in Tyrone Track and Field history, one that has stood for an incredible forty-three years. 

Rick Emigh’s long jump record of 22 feet and ¾ of an inch, set way back in 1981, was surpassed this spring by Ronan.

Ronan out-jumped the mark twice at the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference Championship. 

The senior three-sport athlete first broke the record on his third attempt of the day, when he landed a jump of  22 feet, 2.5 inches. 

On his final jump of the day, Ronan extended his record with a jump of 22’6″.

Ronan has had his eyes on this mark for over three years. 

As a sophomore at the Bedford Invitational in 2022, Ronan leaped to a new personal best of 20 feet 3 inches, winning the event. 

It was the first time he had ever surpassed the twenty-foot mark, and he immediately set a new goal for himself: to break the long-standing long jump school record. 

“Breaking this record has been a goal of mine for a long time, it felt amazing to finally get it done,” Ronan said. 

Adding two feet onto an athlete’s long jump is no easy task, and Ronan’s achievement didn’t come without adversity. 

In the winter of his junior year, Ronan was off to a strong start competing in indoor track. The indoor season usually serves as a time for athletes to get their bodies conditioned for the events they will do when the spring season comes around. 

Unfortunately for Ronan, the indoor track season cost him his outdoor season last year. 

On one of Ronan’s jumps, he landed awkwardly and tore the meniscus in his knee. Ronan was forced to get surgery, ending his junior track season before it started. 

Forced to sit out of his junior track season was tough but instead of giving up on his dream, Ronan went to work rehabbing and making his knee stronger. 

With the help of physical therapists from Drayer and personal trainer Nick Getz, Ronan made a full recovery just in time for football season.

In his senior year on his newly repaired knee, during football season he became Tyrone’s first 1,000-yard rusher in eight years. 

“Without the guys at Drayer and Nick Getz, my recovery would’ve never been as good as it was. Their programs and consistency not only helped heal me physically but helped me build back up the confidence to come back better than ever,” Ronan said.  

Tyrone Head Track and Field Coach Brad Kanuch was excited and relieved when Ronan set the record after having to overcome the injury last year and several just-missed attempts this season.

“Brady came into this season with a great mindset and goals in mind. This was his top goal. I have never seen someone in my life scratch the school record as many times as he did, but he persevered, took a deep breath, and got it done. I remember thinking to myself when he was a freshman that I could see him doing this by the time he was a senior. What makes Brady special is that he is extremely coachable, works hard, and always has to prove something,” Kanush said.

Ronan moves onto states this weekend in four events. In addition to the long jump, Ronan also qualified in the 200m dash, and as a member of the 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay.

Ronan’s record is one of three school records to be surpassed this season, with another one close to falling. 

Earlier in the year, fellow senior Bree Paul beat the school record in the 300 hurdles that stood for over 27 years. 

The girls 4×100 relay of Bree Paul, Becca Lewis, Nicole Ramsey, and Sarah Chichester smashed the previous record of 51.25 with a time of 49.94 at the District Championship meet.  

Finally, the boys 4×800 relay is just half a second off the school mark of 8:19.20 set in 1992.