| Brett Guymon with his retired Emery High track jersey. |
During half time at the Emery-Carbon basketball game Jan. 8, Brett Guymon’s track jersey was retired. Guymon is a former Emery High School All-State athlete. James Nelson was the emcee for the presentation. Nelson began by introducing Coach Dean Nelson, who coached Guymon during his years at Emery High. Coach Dean has coached more state champions and all-state athletes than all the rest of the coaches and former coaches put together. He has also coached the school to more state championships than any other coach at Emery High. Coach Dean was the high school state champion in high hurdles and javelin and was on three high school state championship teams and still has one of the fastest time ever recorded in the state in the high hurdles. His record in the 120 yard hurdles will never be broken because this event has been eliminated from competitions.
Nelson introduced Guymon with a brief history of his achievments. “Guymon attended Emery High and graduated with the class of 95. He was a state champion hurdler and was a state champion of the indoor 400 meters. He holds the school record in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles and was a member of the school-record 1600 meter medley relay team.
“Guymon continued his athletic career at Utah State University in Logan competing in the Big West Athletic Conference that includes universities from California, Nevada, Idaho, New Mexico and Utah. This past year, he completed his career as one of Utah State’s all-time greatest track and field athletes. His accomplishments include: five time conference hurdle champion, Big West Athlete of the Year, two time state of Utah hurdle champion, fourth place in the NCAA National Championships, two time all-American in the 400 meter hurdles-Emery’s first and only male all-American in NCAA Division 1 Track and Field, two time qualifier for Olympic Trials and he is currently training for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
“Guymon was plagued by injuries in both high school and college, but persisted to become one the state and nation’s finest hurdlers in an event recognized as one of the most difficult in track and field. He has always represented Emery High and Utah State University with honor, dignity and humility. Guymon is married to the former Christy Funk, also Emery High class of 95, who is also a world-class track athlete. She was the state champ in 800 meter, one mile and two mile,” said Nelson.
Guymon’s jersey was retired to the school trophy case and he was presented with a plaque commemorating the event. The Guymons graduated from Utah State University in December 2002.