Whether it’s on the track or on the trails, a run-in with an injury is bound to happen.
More times than not, a visit to a doctor’s office is next on the agenda.
So, when you walk in the front door and later sit on an examination table, do you want someone who only has basic, secondhand knowledge of fast motion sports or a veteran who’s been in your shoes before?
If the latter is your preference, you might wind up someday consulting with someone like Central Bucks East High School senior Tyler Tomlinson, who not only excels in running but has his eye set toward a career in medicine.
How serious are his goals? Well, he’s already been accepted to Villanova, Princeton, Yale and Penn State.
“I’m not sure exactly what branch of medicine I want to do,” he said in a telephone interview. “But maybe something with sports. Analyzing athletes, how they run. How their system works.
“I haven’t decided yet where I really want to go but I’m thinking that (sports medicine) might come into my life at some point.”
Tomlinson certainly has the running qualifications in this scenario.
In his junior year alone, he finished fifth in the MileSplit official state rankings with a 5,000-meter best time of 15:24.50, the top clocking of all Bucks County high school runners.
He also has a brilliant 4:10 mile to his credit.
Tomlinson believes he can run even faster as a senior.
“I think that’s the goal with any season, to improve,” he said.
With all due respect to his senior year in high school, he’s already looking ahead to collegiate running.
He’s started visiting his big four candidates with a trip to Villanova this week. After that, it’s Penn State, Yale and Princeton.
“I like to be good in the classroom, too, along with the running,” he said. “If I can find a good mix of academics and running, I’ll be really happy with my college choice.”
Villanova has such a deep and proud tradition with distance running. Would the Wildcats be the odds-on favorites to secure his services?
“I think it’s enticing, the history,” Tomlinson confirmed. “I’m looking at the program, the coach. I think the Penn Relays this year they won in the 4×800 or the distance medley. If they can do that for their program, I think that would really help me out, make me a better runner.”
He interned at Pennsylvania Biotechnology Center over the summer and it was a good experience. The PBC is working on cures for hepatitis B and liver cancer.
“I’ve always liked math and science,” he said. “I’ve taken biology and chemistry. I definitely like biology a lot more. The internship really cemented my decision and what I want to major in. I think medicine is the best choice for me.”
Tyler comes from an athletic background. His dad, Dean, played baseball for Neshaminy High School and Temple University. Later, he ran everything up to half-marathons. His mom, Cyndi, also competed in indoor track. Both ran the Broad Street 10-Miler multiple times.
The next Tomlinson generation, including Tyler’s two sisters (Keira and Harper), has been equally active in sports, a list which includes soccer, swimming and, in Tyler’s case, baseball.
“I’ve always been an active kid,” Tyler said. “So I think that’s helped me with my running.”
Both sisters look up to Tyler’s work ethic.
“We help each other out,” he said. “It’s just motivating to have an active family.”
Tyler finished 10th in the PIAA cross country championships last year and looks to move up even higher on that list in his final go-round.
“I was third among juniors for AAA,” he pointed out. “I definitely want to get top three (overall) at the state meet. That’s my goal this season.
“But,” he added with a chuckle, “first would be nice, too.”
Race calendar
Saturday
* 9/11 Heroes Run – Feasterville, 8 a.m., Feasterville. Contact www.runsignup.com
* Miles for Smiles 5K, 9 a.m., Bensalem. Contact www.runsignup.com
* Mill Street Run 5K, 8 a.m., Bristol. Contact www.runsignup.com
Sunday, Sept. 20
* Garden of Reflection 5K/10K, 9 a.m., Lower Makefield. Contact www.runsignup.com
Be the first to comment