MILBANK – Payton Brown got a bit of a late start off the line when it comes to running, but the Milbank standout is definitely making up for lost time.

Brown received his introduction to distance running when he started high school.

“I turned out to be pretty good at track my freshman year,” Brown said, “and so my group of friends that I was with convinced me.”

Brown has shown no signs of slowing down ever since.

Each year, Brown has grown stronger and gotten faster.

While he can literally run anything from a 400-meter dash to a 3,200-meter run, Brown said his favorite race is a 5K.

And whether it’s track or cross country, the senior will use just about anything for motivation during those distance events.

“Throughout the race you pass people, you tend to. That’s motivates me a little bit,” Brown said. “I think about that and I think about the people you see, the supporters over and over, because you’re running in circles most of the time. Just thinking, if I can’t do it for myself, I have to do it for them.”

And when you run long distances, there is plenty of time for thought.

Races tend to be long and the mental challenges demanding.

“It is a long time. Sometimes it’s longer than others,” Brown said. “Usually, I’ve got a song running in the back of my head, but most of the time, I’m just looking at my coach, trying to hit certain times, thinking about when I need to push and when I can relax and just sit in.”

Figuring out that delicate blend of when to attack and when to conserve energy can sometimes spell the difference between winning and falling short.

Brown has learned to rely on his training, trust his instincts and then power through late in races when situations require mental toughness.

“The time you put in helps a lot, but I’d say that whole last 800 to 1,000 meters is all mental,” Brown said. “It’s whatever you’ve got left. (If) you want it the most, you’re going to beat some people that may be better than you.”

While Brown has his late-race strategy ironed out, his pre-race routine offers a bit of everything.

It begins with a regular visit to Subway.

“That’s superstitious man,” Brown said.

Then there is a pre-race prayer, led by the seniors who adorn their faces with crosses under their eyes.

“We always say a prayer,” Brown said, “right before we run we always get in a circle, so we always like to have the crosses.”

And finally, there are those pre-race nerves, something that Brown has never fully been able to shake.

“I just can’t help it,” Brown said. “Some people say nerves are a good thing, but I try not to get too nervous.”

Last spring, Brown broke a Region 1A record in the 3,200-meter run dating back to 1981. It’s a mark that will stand forever since there are no longer region meets. He was also a part of Milbank’s school record 3,200-meter relay squad that finished runner-up at the state meet.

While Brown enjoys running longer distances by himself, he has found a huge sense of satisfaction in running with his teammates as well.

“There’s something about running with the team, it just makes you go a lot faster,” Brown said. “It seems a lot quicker. I’d say relays are way more exciting.”

Brown has put in the miles during the off season and is looking to cap his prep career with his best times ever.

“He is really motivated to have a great spring and senior season,” said Milbank coach Eric Townsend. “He has put in quite a bit of miles in the off season this winter. We are excited to see him finish out a great track and field career.”

Brown, who will be furthering his running career at Augustana University next season, finished third at last year’s State A cross country meet. He will be looking to earn more spots on the podium at his final state track and field meet later this spring and adding more records to his resume along the way.

“I’m just going to try to break as many as I can,” Brown said.