Brian Nelson signs his letter of intent for Eastern Oregon University.
LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University track and field team announced the signing of Brian Nelson and Tom Sheehy recently.
Nelson joins the Mountaineers after a stellar career at Nyssa High School in Nyssa, Ore. In 2009 he was a member of the Bulldogs’ state cross country champion team. Individually, Nelson finished fifth in the 2009 state championships. The graduating senior won the 2008 title, running a school record time of 16:05.
On the track in 2008, Nelson won the state 1,500-meter title in Class 3A. In 2009, he ran the 3,000-meter race and finished as a state runner-up. This season Nelson is ranked in the top ten in Class 3A in the 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters. The Nyssa native captured the 1,500 meter title at the La Grande Invitational on April 16, running on the EOU track.
“Brian is an extremely talented athlete,” Eastern Cross Country and Track and Field head coach Ben Welch said. “He is a six-time district champ, three in each of the 1,500 and 3,000. All three of his first high school years he has finished in the top four in the 3,000. In Cross Country he was a two-time District champ.”
Nelson would like to be a Mathematics major at Eastern Oregon. He is the valedictorian at NHS this year, and president of the National Honor Society. The son of Edward and Jeanette Nelson has volunteered at the Nyssa Food Pantry, Help Them to Hope, and at school athletic events.
Sheehy will stay close to home after choosing EOU. The Union, Ore. native has impressed local fans while running for the Bobcats. The graduating senior is currently second in Class 2A in the 1,500 and fifth in the 3,000. He won the 2009 state title in the 3,000 meters.
The son of Jim and Sally Sheehy was a four-time district individual champion, two in each of the 1,500 meters and 3,000 meters. In cross country he was third in 2008 and fourth in 2009 at the state championships. Sheehy was a district champion in 2009, and top eight at the district level in each of his high school seasons in cross country.
Sheehy claimed the 3,000-meter title at the La Grande Invitational with a time of 9:51.33. He made news state-wide last year when he gave up his top spot in the 1,500 meters at the state championships so a teammate could compete in the meet.
“Brian and Tom go from being former district and state cross country rivals to being teammates,” Welch said. “They are two of Eastern Oregon's more successful high school cross country and track athletes in recent years, and now will run together in college.
“Both of these guys are talented and very strong students who will not only bring athletic ability, but proven teamwork and leadership skills and positive attitudes. Both, while well trained, have room to grow and continue to improve. They both fit in well with the goal of not only attracting talented athletes to EOU, but attracting quality individuals and students and keeping the top local talent in the area.”