Raeford
"Buck" Brooks Biography
Keyser High / (Class
of 1989) Keyser, WV
Classification: AAA
Specialty: Distance
West Virginia
University / Morgantown, West
Virginia
Raeford Michael "Buck" Brooks (born September 05, 1971) was a West Virginia distance runner. He was born in Memorial Hospital in Cumberland, Maryland, but grew up in Keyser, West Virginia, where he attended Keyser High School. He was a West Virginia High School boys individual state champion in cross country and track. He won the class AAA boys 3,200-meter run four years in a row. He attended West Virginia University where he studied Special Education and competed on the cross country and track and field teams. His parents are Raeford “Micky” and Alta (Redman) Brooks, Sr., while he has four sisters: Tara Brooks, Linnea Brooks, Bianca Brooks, and Renee Grove.
Family Tradition:
Brooks comes from a long line of runners who have won individual state titles: Dale Redman, Brian Redman, Tracy Gilmore, and himself.
The family tradition started back in 1968. First, it began with Dale Redman, who won the 1971 West Virginia High School State Cross Country Championship as a senior. Second, he was followed by Mike Redman, who graduated from Keyser in 1972 and became a distance-running star at Davis & Elkins College. Third, Brian Redman followed Mike. By the time Brian graduated in 1984, he had won four state championships, finished second four times and third once in individual events. Brian won the 1983 individual state cross country title and was the second West Virginia high school runner to qualify for the Kinney Cross Country National Championship back in the early 1980's. Fourth, Tracy Gilmore came after Brian. Gilmer won the cross-country title in 1984 - along with some track titles. And finally, the torch was passed to Buck Brooks, who was runner-up in cross country in 1986, and then won the individual state title in 1987. By the time Brooks graduated in 1989, he had won seven state championships, finished second once, third once, fourth once and fifth three times in individual events.
Early Life:
As a youngster, Brooks participated in Pee Wee Football for the Keyser Mini Steelers “C” Team, where he started out as center position until the coaches realized that he could run fast; then he transitioned into half-back, wide-receiver and defensive end positions.
Middle School:
Brooks attended Keyser (Primary) Middle School, which was Grades 5th through 8th.
His first recognition of running when he was younger, was when his “Redman” uncles would tell him, “I Buy, You Fly” which meant that if he would run a couple of blocks to the corner store, and get them a soda and chips, they would buy him some as well (that is if he was fast enough to get theirs back to the house).
Brooks was also one of fastest kids all through Primary and Middle School.
In his Physical Education Class, he could run the most laps on the track and won the end of school year “Field Day” distance run many years. He also began running 5k and 10k Road Races sometime in Middle School.
With competitive running uncles on both sides of his family (Redman & Brooks), he was always around running as his family supported their cross-country races. When he was in 7th and 8th Grade, his first cousins, Brian Redman (who ran for Iowa in College) and Tracy Gilmore, who are half-brothers, were dominating the field in high school track and cross-country. He couldn’t wait to follow in their footsteps (literally) and try to be as good as them.
Keyser head coach Jim Turbin and his assistant, Dan Dawson, first saw a glimpse of Brooks' potential during spring when Brooks was an eighth-grader. He showed up at the high school's track practice and asked to work out with the older boys.
"He asked us if we minded if he ran with our guys," Dawson recalled, "and we said no." "As an eighth-grader," Turbin said, "he showed great potential. He came out on his own during our practice sessions and was competitive." Brooks practiced with Keyser during the spring but was not eligible to run in the high school's meets. There was no junior high or middle school track programs in Keyser.
Brooks first started to have success at running while in Middle School, where he would win field day distance runs and mile run events.
RUNNING CAREER:
High School:
Buck Brooks, was a four-time all-state cross-country runner at Keyser High School, while he was an individual state champion in 1987. He was the Class AAA state champion in the 3,200-meter run all four years of his high school career (1986-89), and two-time 1600-meter champion (1988-89). His coaches were Jim Broome (Head Cross Country), Jim Turbin (Head Track) and Dan Dawson (Assistant Coach) – whom was his primary workout coach for distance in both track and cross country.
In High School, he literally only ran about 30-35 miles per week, as he was running mainly on natural talent. His workouts would include 20 x 400-meters, which he would call his “love to hate” workout, then he would do some quick speed work as well like 10 x 200-meters and 10 x 100-meters, which he always loved as a distance runner.
The race that he was most proud of in high school, was his state meet performances in the 3200-meter run (since he was a four-time state champion in a single event). He also was proud of his 1986 State Champion 4x800m Relay Team and his 1989 individual 1600-meter race (4:18.7), because they were two races that came up a second shy of state records.
Brooks will always be remembered as a runner who would shoot out of the start. He was never a run from behind runner, leaving many of his competitors playing catch-up for most of the race. He believed you should get a good fast start and have a strong fast finish. He felt that if you got out fast and in front from the beginning, that it would give you a little bit of confidence boost, so that you could maintain position at or near the front of the pack/race, versus starting mid-pack where you would have to work somewhat harder to regain contention to the front. As vicious as his start was, he would finish with a fantastic last-lap kick to take the win.
Some of his toughest competitors in high school were: teammate and cousin Tracy Gilmore (Keyser HS), Andrew (Hampshire HS), Donnie Mickey (Frankfort HS), Scott Yokus (Bishop Walsh HS), Tim Lucas (Elkins HS), Duane Miller (John Marshall HS), Todd McMillion (Poca/Nitro HS), Tony Taylor (Martinsburg HS), David and Michael Ball (Spencer HS), Brian Floyd (Fairmont Senior HS), Don DeCarlo (Morgantown HS), Richard Putney (North Marion HS), Randy Gibbs (Parkersburg HS), and Jimmy Cunningham (Nitro HS). And Believe it or Not, James Jett (Jefferson High), who was eventually Brooks college roommate at WVU.
Jett was a prime competitor of his, although they never raced against each other. Jett was the Sprints King and Books in distance. Brooks wanted to Beat Jett in the “High Point” Award. He finally did during their senior year at the Fairmont Times Invitational Track Meet. Brooks earned three 1st place individuals and a 1st place relay, while Jett had three 1st place and a 2nd Place Relay. So, Brooks would always joke to everyone that he beat The Great JAMES JETT, which is a friend of his.
Freshman Year
In cross country (1985), John Marshall’s Duane Miller was the all-class boys individual state champion with a time of 16:40. Morgantown’s Don DeCarlo trailed by 19 seconds, one of three Morgantown runners in the top 10, to pace his team's win. Mark Hartling of Nitro ran third, while Brooks flashed his talent when he finished fifth in the state cross country meet at Oak Hill.
In track (1986), he won the Class AAA boys’ 3200-meter race at the West Virginia State Meet with a time of 9:31.09, and placed fifth in the 1600-meter race in 4:31.20. He ran on the state champion 4 x 800m relay team (Buck Brooks / Freshman, Herbie Lawrence / Sophomore, Danny Parker / Junior, Tracy Gilmore / Senior). The Golden Tornado’s ran an amazing time of 7:59.04, which just missed the state record by fractions. Brooks faults himself for not breaking the record. The 5-8, 130-pounder, ran the first leg of the relay in 2:03. The inexperienced freshman became boxed in and handed the baton to Keyser's second runner, sophomore Herbie Lawrence, in sixth place. As a result, Keyser barely missed the state record of 7:58.60, which was set in 1981 by Parkersburg.
Class AAA Boys State Meet Results:
1600 Meter Run: 1) Don DeCarlo (Morgantown) 4:17.52 (Record); 2) Duane Miller (John Marshall) 4:24.55; 3) Scott Myers (Herbert Hoover) 4:29.39; 4) Tim Lucas (Elkins) 4:29.86; 5) Buck Brooks (Keyser) 4:31.20; 6) Scott Hinkle (South Charleston) 4:31.28
3200 Meter Run: 1) Buck Brooks (Keyser) 9:31.09; 2) Duane Miller (John Marshall) 9:32.33; 3) Higginbotham (Morgantown) 9:38.24; 4) Jimmy Cunningham (Nitro) 9:41.74; 5) Georege Angelos (Parkersburg) 9:47.98; Mark Hartling (Nitro) 9:50.92
Sophomore Year
In cross country (1986), he was the all-class boys individual state cross country runner-up at Hampshire[MM1] High. Tim Lucas of Elkins came on strong in the final 50 yards and edged sophomore Buck Brooks of Keyser by a step. Both runners were timed at 17:19.
In track (1987), he repeated in the Class AAA boys’ 3200-meter race at the West Virginia State Meet with a time of 9:42.8, and placed fifth in the 1600-meter race in 4:33.5.
Class AAA Boys State Meet
Results:
1600 Meter Run: 1) Danny Parker (Keyser) 4:24.8; 2) B. Cox (Wheeling Park) 4:28.9; 3) Jeff Ashton (Fairmont West) 4:30.4; 4) Tim Lucas (Elkins) 4:31.7; 5) Buck Brooks (Keyser) 4:33.5; 6) Rick Thomas (Nitro) 4:34.0
3200 Meter Run: 1) Buck Brooks (Keyser) 9:42.8; 2) Tony Ross (Hoover) 9:43.7); 3) Jeff Ashton (Fairmont West) 9:44.2; 4) Jimmy Cunningham (Nitro) 9:47.9; 5) Freshwater (Brooke) 9:49.9; Tim Lucas (Elkins) 9:50.7
Junior Year
In cross country (1987), he won the Class AAA boys individual state cross country championship at Wheeling Park. Keyser's Buck Brooks finished first at 15:55, followed by Nitro's Jimmy Cunningham at 16:04. He also ran the 1987 Kinney Northeast Regional Race at Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx Zoo, New York, while finishing in the Top 30.
In track (1988), Brooks displayed a fantastic last-lap kick to win his third straight Class AAA 3,200-meter run at the West Virginia State Meet with a time of 9:33.8, and won the 1600-meter race in 4:24.0.
Class AAA Boys State Meet
Results:
1600 Meter Run: 1) Buck Brooks (Keyser) 4:24.0; 2) Todd McMillion (Nitro) 4:24.6; 3) Jimmy Cunningham (Nitro) 4:25.7; 4) Jeff Ashton (Fairmont West) 4:29.8; 5) Rhodes (Ripley) 4:30.3; Wall (Martinsburg) 4:30.5
3200 Meter Run: 1) Buck Brooks (Keyser) 9:33.8; 2) Todd McMillion (Nitro) 9:34.6; 3) Jimmy Cunningham (Nitro) 9:37.8; 4) Randy Gibbs (Parkersburg) 9:41.6; 5) Jason Click (Pt. Pleasant) 9:49.0; Lamp (Oak Glen) 9:52.8
Senior Year
In cross country (1988), he placed fourth in the class AAA boys state cross country championship at Phillip Barbour. Spencer's David Ball won the cross-country title, while covering the 3.1 course in 17 minutes, 40 seconds. Todd McMillion of Nitro (the 1986 class AA/A boy’s individual state cross country champion, while running for Poca HS) finished third in 17:55 and last year's winner, Buck Brooks of Keyser, came in fourth in 18:02.
In track (1989), Brooks stormed to a fourth straight victory in the Class AAA boys’ 3200-meter race at the West Virginia State Meet with a time of 9:26.6. He repeated in the 1600-meter race in 4:18.7, while placing third in the 800-meter race in 1:56.78.
Class AAA Boys State Meet Results:
1600 Meter Run: 1) Buck Brooks (Keyser) 4:18.7; 2) Nathan Hall (Wheeling Park) 4:23.3; 3) John Ivey (Morgantown) 4:24.1; 4) Tony Patrick (Bluefield) 4:27.7; 5) Chad Rhodes (North Marion) 4:31.6; Randy Gibbs (Parkersburg) 4:32.9
3200 Meter Run: 1) Buck Brooks (Keyser) 9:26.6; 2) Todd McMillion (Nitro) 9:44.0; 3) Tony Patrick (Bluefield) 9:44.6; 4) Randy Gibbs (Parkersburg) 9:46.8; 5) Steve Meddings (Hurricane) 9:59.2; 6) Nathan Hall (Wheeling Park) 10:02.3
Brooks committed to run for the West Virginia University Mountaineers over many other prestigious D1 programs.
Buck Brooks High
School Personal Records:
· 800 Meters – 1:56.78
· 1600 Meters – 4:18.7
· 3200 Meters – 9:26.6
· 5k Cross Country – 15:05
College:
Brooks earned a track and cross-country scholarship to West Virginia University. He attended WVU from 1989 – 1993. He received a medical red-shirt his senior year due to Patella Tendinitis (Tendinitis in the knee), but forfeited his fifth year of competition due to already graduating and an overwhelming feeling of being out of race shape. His head track and cross-country coach at WVU was Martin “Marty” Pushkin.
While in college he participated in the 800m, 1500m, 1600m, 1 Mile, 3000m, 5000m, DMR (Distance Medley Relay), 4x800m Relay and Cross Country (8k & 10k Races).
Personal College Records:
· 1500 Meters - 3:52 (3:52 for 1500m converts to 4:09.05 for 1600m and 4:10.49 for 1 mile)
· 5000 Meters – Ran under 14:30
· 4x800m Relay Split - 1:53.9
Brooks graduated in December of 1993 with a BA in English. He returned to Graduate School at WVU in August of 1997. In August of 1998, he graduated with a Master’s Degree in Special Education.
POST-COLLEGIATE:
Coaching:
He will be entering his eleventh season as the Head Boy’s XC/Track Coach at Suncrest Middle School in Morgantown, West Virginia. Since his acceptance of the position, the Suncrest Boys’ and Girls’ Cross-Country Teams have averaged 105 runners (6th-8th Grades) and their Track Teams have averaged 135 athletes (6th-8th Grades) each year, which is the biggest team in both sports (and any other sport) across WV High School and Middle School Teams.
In the Summer 2017, he will be entering his fifth season of offering “BROOKS’ MILERS” Summer Running Camps to Morgantown Local Area Runners and Beginning Runners.
In the Fall of 2017, he will be coaching his third season of the “WV Flash” Foot Locker South Regional XC Club Runners.
He is steering the organization of “University United Racing Club”, a Northeast WV Running Club, which should be underway by the end of 2017.
In addition, Brooks has previous coaching experience at: Grafton High XC (1997), Preston High Assistant Track Coach (1998), and Miller Junior High as Assistant Track Coach (1999).
Teaching:
He will be entering his twentieth year as a West Virginia Public School Teacher. He is a Special Education (Behavior Disorders) Teacher by position, but currently has transitioned into a Collaborative General-Education Math Co-Teacher over the last three years. In the Fall of 2017, he will be entering his eleventh year at Suncrest Middle School.
He previously was a Special Educator in Marion County at Dunbar Middle & Miller Jr. High (1998-99); Dunbar Middle (1999-2004) in Fairmont, WV; J.Y. Joyner Elementary in Raleigh, NC (2004-05); East Park Elementary & Pleasant Valley Elementary (2004-06).
Personal Life:
He is married to Donna Shanette (Twyman) Brooks. They just celebrated twenty-one years of marriage (May 25, 1996) and have been together for nearly twenty-nine years. They have three children: Skylar Jane’ Brooks (born October 18, 1998) is a 2016 Morgantown High Graduate and will be entering her sophomore year at M.I.T; Michaela Rai Brooks (born July 15, 2001) entering her junior year at Morgantown High; Braedon Michael Brooks (born September 13, 2003) will be entering the 8th Grade at Suncrest Middle. The Brooks currently live in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Brooks three offspring children are runners as well.
His eldest daughter, Skylar, was sixth overall at the 2015 West Virginia High School Class AAA Girls State Cross Country Championship and was a member of the Morgantown High State Champion XC Team in 2012 - 2013 and Runner-ups in 2014 - 2015. She was on the 2016 4 x 800-meter relay State Championship Team. In 2015, she was State Runner-up in the 800-meter run. Skylar just finished her freshman year running at M.I.T. in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Cross Country & Track – 2016-17). She focuses as a middle-distance athlete in indoor and outdoor track.
Middle daughter, Michaela, ran one year of cross country in 6th Grade, and has re-appeared to running track (as a sprinter) at Morgantown High her freshman and sophomore years (Michaela is a “Social” runner).
Youngest son, Braedon, has ran cross country and track in his 6th and 7th Grade years. He has accomplished varsity status & JV over-all wins in his two years of running cross country. He Jumps down as a sprinter (one of top 3 team sprinters for Suncrest Middle) in Track. His Range is like his dad’s as he is quick in the 100m & 200m, but gets better with longer distances. His ideal events would be 400m & 800m and 4x400 and 4x800. He does not have his heart in running, although is highly achieved in his participation and results.
Running
Acknowledgements:
Brooks credits his running success to his Redman and Brooks family genes. His mentors were his cousins Tracy Gilmore and Brian Redman. He received a host of coaching knowledge primarily from Coach “Double D” (Dan Dawson), as well as his lead coaches, Broome and Turbin. Brooks became self-motivated and determined when he began receiving college Interest letters during his sophomore year of high school, which his coaches had to keep until his junior year.
Submitted by Mike McMillion (06/30/17)
Results courtesy of RunWV
& Jesse Skiles