By Hailey Chapman
“I have three things that come to mind when I hear the name Brett Meyer: Child of god, selfless leader, and lastly a gifted runner. ”
Senior Yessenia Gonzalez
He stood off the podium, waiting for his name to be called. Nationally ranked in his final year, he sealed his legacy and gave all the glory to God.
Brett Meyer of Fort Hays State University, the 2019 1,500-meter national champion. It’s a day Meyer will remember forever as he crossed the finish line victorious for the last time in his career as a Tiger.
Starting his senior season, Meyer was no stranger to the limelight. The four-time All-American was a seasoned athlete, ready to not only beat his competition, but ready to make history.
Meyer competed as a multi-sport athlete all four years at FHSU, earning his first All-American honors as a sophomore in the 800-meter race. He also nabbed a spot on the all-MIAA team, turning heads at such a young age. But it wasn’t just his speed, it was his heart.
Fellow senior Yessenia Gonzales expressed her appreciation for Meyer’s selfless leadership and the impact it had on her performance in her final season.
Gonzales shared her story of the moment she knew the importance this team held in Meyer’s heart. She was completing a simple workout one windy afternoon, solo because her partner had fallen ill. It was then that she asked Meyer to set a pace for her in an 800-meter run. Without hesitation, Meyer ran alongside Gonzales, pushing her every step of the way.
“After that day, I realized Brett was not running for himself, he was in all this for his teammates,” Gonzales said.
She shared how this impacted her, making her want to be a better teammate and leader for those looking up to her. Meyer gave his fellow seniors the push and inspiration they needed to lead the Tigers to personal bests and championships.
Not only did he impact those he ran alongside in distance, but he influenced senior sprinter Jared Pfeifer through his humble words and actions.
“With him being a distance runner, we didn’t really have time to hang out. But he’s a hard, dedicated worker. He’s humble and shows kindness to everyone around him,” Pfeifer said.
Senior high jumper Kolt Newell also expressed his appreciation for Meyer’s presence at meets.
“At meets, when he was around he was always supporting his teammates and was a great example for others because of his unmatched effort and competitive drive,” Newell said.
A natural born leader and example for generations to come, Meyer was the force that made the team go. He inspired and pushed people to their limits, for which each and every individual is grateful for.
“He was a great example for underclassmen on how to be both a great person and competitor on and off the track,” Newell said.
Senior Haley Jones added it was not always fun sitting through meets watching runners endlessly stride in circles. But when Meyer was running, all eyes were on him and teammates could not help but be fully invested.
“Brett has the ability to make it worth your while. He puts everything he has into every race and the anticipation of the ‘fall back’ technique can really get your heart pumping,” Jones said.
“ I can even see how deep Brett’s determination goes and every second of effort he’s put into running, just makes him that much more deserving of his national title,” she said.
It was no secret that his freshman year, Meyer was a completely different athlete than the one he is today. He attributes that to a transition in his faith. Meyer said that in his first year competing with Fort Hays, he had a selfish mindset. But it all changed as his relationship with Christ grew stronger. He began running for his team, but his biggest motivation came through his faith.
“Once I took the pressure off myself and started focusing on others and God, track started to become less of a job and more of a passion,” Meyer said. “Once my mindset changed, my motivation and trust was fully on Christ and my legs followed.”
Meyer said his inspiration to be great comes from not only his faith, but from his fiance and former teammate Kelly Wycoff. An All-American as well after a historic run as a Tiger, Wycoff emphasized the impact Meyer had on her successful career.
“Getting to compete alongside Kelly was my favorite part of my four years competing,” Meyer said. “That’s something I am so excited to share with my kids, that both of us had the opportunity to do all the bus rides together and to even become All-Americans together in her last race.”
The feeling was mutual for Wycoff. Similar to fellow teammates, the duo rarely practiced together; however, that did not keep Meyer from pushing her every step of the way.
“I can honestly say Brett played a huge role in my own career and success on the track team,” Wycoff said. “We didn’t have many practices together, but he still managed to hold me accountable all the time, encourage me and make me better.”
In Wycoff’s final season, the two had grown so much together that in the spring of 2018, Meyer proposed to his girlfriend of six years. The most touching aspect was that the proposal took place in the very spot the two had spent endless hours training — the Alex Francis Track and Field Facility.
A sentimental and life-changing moment for the two, Wycoff expressed her joy and excitement for her fiance’s future following Fort Hays.
“Even though Brett is an incredible athlete, I think his heart is definitely the best thing about him,” she said. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.”
So the story of Brett Meyer as a Tiger has come to an end, but his legacy will never die. The impact he has had on his teammates and the program cannot be measured. Fort Hays State will forever know the name Brett Meyer and associate it with one word: champion.
All photos courtesy of athletes interviewed