CSU-Pueblo Sophomore Thomas Staines On 'Amazing' Ride to 1:45

By Brian Towey of DyeStat

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Rallying from an outside lane in the elite men's 800 meters at the Music City Distance Carnival at Vanderbilt University on Saturday, Colorado State-Pueblo sophomore Thomas Staines' momentum never abated.

The 6-foot-4 British-born Staines, the NCAA Division 2 national champion in the 800 and the son of two former Olympians, overtook Edose Ibadin and Drew Piazza for a victory in 1:45.57. That's No. 12 in the world.

It was a new personal best for Staines, who only took up the sport seriously during his junior year of high school at Cheyenne Mountain CO. So far, it's been a magical ride. A longtime soccer player, he turned toward track at coach Stan Lambos' behest, and never looked back.

"I ran 1:52.7 at (the Colorado State meet) as a senior," Staines said. "By then, I'd already committed to CSU-Pueblo. I spoke with some Division 1 schools, but I had only run 1:54 until that point, and they told me, 'You have to run 1:52-1:51.' I was like, 'Well, I'll show you.'”

Staines isn’t looking back.

"CSU-Pueblo had my major, Automotive Industry (Management) -- I love cars. They were one of the few schools in the country that had it,” Staines said. “And it was only 40 minutes from home (in Colorado Springs). I'm happy with the choice I made, my coach and teammates."

Staines' parents Gary and Linda (nee Keough) both ran in the 1988 Seoul Olympics for Great Britain. Gary Staines competed in the 5,000 meters and Linda was in the 400 meters and on the 4x400 relay.

The family moved to Colorado from England in 2002 after an introduction to the area by British miler Steve Cram, who'd trained with Gary in Boulder since 1987. They bought a running shop in Colorado Springs.

"I think everyone who came through the house was a runner," Gary Staines said. "Thomas needed his own identity. He resisted it for a long time. Then his coach (Lambos) took him to Arizona for a Nike Regional meet, and that was it."

For Thomas Staines, the progress is still a bit bewildering. His first NCAA title came in March at the NCAA Division 2 Indoor Championships. Following a 1:46.56 PR at the Division 2 National Championships in Charlotte, N.C., on May 26, his times have continued to improve.

"If you told me last year that I'd be running these times, I'd say, 'You're crazy,' Staines said. "It's surreal. I'm just enjoying the process, trusting my coaches and teammates."

And for Gary, who was trackside Saturday, it's been a joy to watch Thomas' development in the sport, watching him grow step by step.

"This year has been just amazing," Gary Staines said. "You almost don't want it to end. Each week he does one amazing thing after the next.

"I think he's just gotten confidence. He's learned to race, and he's not scared to race anybody, as you saw (in Nashville). It's exciting."