Kevin Nelson

 Kevin graduated in 1986 from Brandon Valley High School.

Upon graduation, Kevin was the most decorated middle/long distance runner in Brandon Valley history.  After enrolling at Brandon Valley for his sophomore year, Kevin earned three varsity letters in both Cross Country and Track and Field.

After earning All-State Cross Country recognition for two years at Pierre Riggs High School, Kevin continued his success at Brandon Valley.  As a sophomore, he was the Big 8 conference champion and finished in third place at the state AA meet.  His junior season saw him win the Big 8 title and runner-up at the state AA meet, while leading his team to a team runner-up finish at the state meet.  Kevin culminated his high school cross country career with an undefeated senior campaign, where he won Big 8 and state AA titles and lead his team to a third place finish at the state meet.  He was then invited to the National Prep All-American Cross Country Championships, where he finished twelfth.

On the track, as a junior, Kevin was named the Most Valuable Performer at the Dan Lennon Indoor Meet, after winning the 1500-meter and 5000-meter races.  He was also runner-up at the state meet 800-meter race, where the Lynx won the first State AA Track and Field title.  The Lynx took the Track and Field scene by storm in his senior year and Kevin had a huge part.  He won four events at the Big 8 meet, three events at the Region 2AA meet and four events at the State AA meet.  The Lynx won all three meets, becoming back-to-back state champions.  Kevin was named the Most Valuable Athlete at the State Meet.  He lost only three races his senior year – two of them in the 800-meter event to teammate, Tate Metcalf.

Kevin went on to the University of Arizona, where his collegiate running career was cut short by a knee injury.  He later went on to earn his master’s degree from the Naval War College and serves as a Commander in the U.S Navy.

His favorite Lynx memory is being part of such outstanding teams with incredible athletes in both Cross Country and Track and Field.  Those team achievements, over consecutive years, were tremendous accomplishments as the smallest school in the largest division in South Dakota at the time.