Science Hill High School

Mark Brown

Mark Brown 1971

Moving to Johnson City from Atlanta before his junior year of high school didn't really appeal to Mark Brown, but it was the best thing to happen in the long run.

Brown couldn't find much to do in the small town in 1969, but he did run into Science Hill running coach Don Bates and East Tennessee State coach Dave Walker. Before he'd left town, Brown won a state title in cross country (1970) and track (1971) at Science Hill and went on to become one of only eight Walker runners to make All-America in cross country and track.

Brown's most exciting day at Science Hill wasn't a state title, it was when he ran a 4:08 mile in the early spring at the Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla. The mark was the fastest prep mark in the nation, and remained so most of the season.

"I remember looking at the clock and knowing it was going to be under 4:10," Brown said, "and I thought, 'It's about time,' because I'd done my homework to run a fast mile."

The Relays were a prestigious meet, and ETSU was there. Brown said he'd already been training with ETSU runners such as Neil Cusack and Eddie and P.J. Leddy.

"Coach Walker probably wasn't even surprised with my time because he already knew what I could do," Brown said.

Walker wasn't surprised with Brown's All-American career.

"Mark was one of the most talented distance runners we've had," Walker said, "and he was here when we had some great ones. He and Ray Flynn used to have some tremendous battles kicking at the door of four flat (in the mile). Ray has said that Mark is one of the greatest athletes in East Tennessee State history.

"Mark was also good in the 5,000 and 10,000. He and Adrian Leek were a lot alike, and again, that's good company."

Brown played football as a junior at Science Hill. He caught some passes, returned some kicks.

"I wasn't a blazer but I had some decent moves," Brown said. "I loved playing football but I was a very average football player. I don't know if I weighed 145 pounds soaking wet. I knew I wasn't going anywhere in football so I ran cross country my senior year."

Brown was an NCAA and USTAFF Cross Country All-American in 1975, and a Track & Field All-American in 1976.

He broke six track records and still holds the mark in the 3,200 meters at ETSU. He also ran on the school's record-setting distance medley relay team in '76. Brown was All-Ohio Valley Conference in cross country in 1975 and won OVC Indoor mile in '76. He also ran on the Distance Medley Relay winner.

Brown's jersey was retired at ETSU during the Niswonger Invitational in January.