Members of a record-breaking relay team from Wichita Heights High School will soon take their place among the school’s greatest. On Oct. 19, the 2005 4×800-meter relay team that captured the Kansas 6A State Championship will be inducted into the Heights Hall of Fame.
The team, consisting of brothers Tyrell, Tevan, and Tevas Everett, along with teammate Ferrien Harris, set a Class 6A state and school record of 7:47.85, a record that has stood for nearly two decades.
“Heights has a special place in my heart,” says Tyrell Everett. “To be honored, inducted, and have something to show my kids is really special.”
The 4×800-meter relay is an event where four runners complete two laps (800 meters) around the track, passing a baton between legs. It requires a combination of speed and endurance that tests even the most talented athletes.
What makes this team’s story particularly remarkable is the family connection. Three of the four runners are brothers, with Tevan and Tevas being twins. At the time of their championship run, Tyrell was a freshman while his older brothers and Harris were seniors. The brothers are the sons of Victor and Junetta Everett of Wichita.
The family has a history of track excellence. Their father was recently inducted into the Wichita State University Sports Hall of Fame. His performance in the 400-meter dash at the 1976 NCAA Outdoor Championships still ranks second on WSU’s all-time top 10 list.
The pressure to win state wasn’t just coming from family expectations. The young men struck a deal with their dad: If they could break the state record, they would be allowed to get their ears pierced.
“We were young and wanted to be cool, so maybe that was extra motivation for us,” recalls Tyrell. “We sure did [get our ears pierced], dad couldn’t deny us after that race.”
The hall-of-fame induction will also recognize Steve Crosley, the coach who guided the team to their historic victory.
Following their high school careers, all three Everett brothers continued running at the collegiate level. Tyrell attended the University of Missouri, while Tevan and Tevas both ran for Kansas State University before transferring to the University of Texas. Tevan, a five-time All-American, later pursued a professional track and field career.
Today, the brothers are spread across Texas, with Tyrell and Tevas residing in Dallas and Tevan in Austin. Ferrien continues to call Wichita home.
About the record breaking day, Tyrell says things just came together. All year long they had been running well and they knew the state record was within their reach. “The actual day, it just all came together. Everyone on the relay ran their personal best. That’s how you end up with a state record that lasts for 20 years.”
