Tracking his moves
Three-sport star Lymon has colleges following him
By Todd D. Burlage
The Journal Gazette
Decisions, Decisions.
That's what Harding junior Selwyn Lymon is up against these days.
What events to run in track? What scholarship offer to accept? Basketball, football, or both?
It must be rough being Lymon - the best 400-meter runner in the state, a blue-chip football recruit and maybe the best all-around high school athlete in Indiana.
It's just a shame he's only allowed to compete in four events this track postseason or Harding might finish in the top five at state.
"He is just a natural track athlete. He is that rare combination of quick explosion plus good speed," Harding track coach Sherwood Haydock said. "Pick any four events. It wouldn't matter, he'd excel."
Lymon's 48.5 in the 400 meters is the best time in the state this season. His long jumps are among the top three in the state and he also runs on Harding's state-hopeful 400-meter and 1,600-meter relay teams.
And the guy has the nerve to say: "track really isn't my thing. I just run track to stay in shape for football and basketball. I don't work on track during the offseason. I work on the other sports."
It's that natural ability that has caught the attention of nearly every major football program in the country.
At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Lymon has the rare combination of size and speed that coaches sell their souls for.
Coaches call the school daily wanting to know whether Lymon is for real.
"The nice thing is, they don't have to take our word for it," Haydock said. "It's on record that he is one of the fastest runners in the state."
Lymon already has offers from Michigan, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin and Penn State - and that's just from the Big Ten.
Haydock said Penn State recruiters apologized feverishly last week for getting into the Lymon lottery so late.
"It's tough. (Last week), I had Purdue and Wisconsin. . . . I mean, I had Purdue and Penn State wanting to talk," said Lymon, trying to sort through all the offers. "It is like that every day. There's nothing like it. It is something I will never forget."
Lymon tries not to get caught up in all the hype or the decision process. The calls have been coming since he was a freshman so there's no reason to rush things. He's still just a junior.
The focus is on staying healthy and winning at least one individual track title. He'll be the heavy favorite in the 400 and one of the guys to beat in the long jump.
"He hasn't been chased yet," Haydock said. "He's not been pushed. When he finally gets pushed that last 200 meters, it is hard telling what he can do."
Lymon remains confident in his ability, but grounded through his success. His father, Terry Lymon, sees to it.
"He has to realize that he is just a junior, and he has just started. The hard work has not begun yet," said Terry Lymon, a standout football player at North Side, Ball State and in the Canadian Football League. "He is just a junior, and he is getting quite a bit of attention. It is imperative on his part to remain focused and to train hard."
Track has always come naturally to Selwyn Lymon, even in middle school. But it wasn't until he finished third in the long jump and sixth in the 400 as a sophomore at state last season that he started to realize his full track potential, even if it is just a hobby.
"I'm not going to think about the state meet just yet," Selwyn Lymon said. "We still have to get through sectional and regional. The goals are there, but you can't look ahead."
Sounds like Dad talking.
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