PEABODY — This past weekend is one that Fernando Braz is sure that he won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
The Peabody track legend has joined a distinguished group, becoming one of just a few people in the state to be inducted into the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame as both a player and coach.
For Braz, the experience was humbling to say the least.
“Just looking and seeing who some of the other inductees were (Sunday),” Braz said. “That group, and hearing some of their accomplishments was humbling. I was certainly proud to represent the Tanners.”
Five years ago Braz, who has coached runners at Peabody High School and beyond for over two decades, was inducted into the MSTCA Hall of Fame for his coaching prowess.
Sunday at Reggie Lewis Track Center in Boston preceding the State Coaches Large school track meet the focus was on the 1980 Peabody graduate’s historic years competing as an athlete.
During his time competing at Peabody High Braz ran under another legendary coach in George Smyrnios, winning 12 state titles in track and cross country. Braz still holds the Massachusetts record for the indoor 5,000 meter at 14:52.8 and earned All-American honors in cross country and spring track. In 1979 he and fellow Peabody High teammate Leslie Welch became the first runners from the same school to win individual state cross country titles. The duo repeated the feat the following year.
Braz went on to run at Boston College where he was the first BC distance runner to qualify for the NCAA championships in both cross country and track. Braz is also a member of the Peabody High and BC Halls of Fame.
What made Sunday so special for Braz was being surrounded by family and loved ones. Along with his immediate family, Smyrnios, who had an impact on Braz far beyond a normal coach, was able to be present as well.
“He meant as much to me then, as he does today,” Braz said. “(Smyrnios) believed in hard work and doing the right thing. Words can’t describe what he meant to me. As a coach he told me about my weaknesses not my strengths. Working on those weaknesses is how I became a better athlete and person.”
Braz and his family moved to the United States from Portugal when he was eight years old. He can still recall waking up for school at 7 a.m. and heading to practice and then work, many nights not getting home until 1 a.m. while helping his family get by. Braz credits his mother and Smyrnios for shaping the person he is today during those struggles.
In 1992 Braz started coaching the sport in which he once excelled. Since then he has built a reputation as an incredible coach in Peabody while using the lessons he learned from those who guided him in his youth.
He founded Go the Distance, a popular program that provides personal coaching, speed and conditioning programs for all athletes as well as marathon training for runners of all abilities.
“He has always been a kids-first type of coach,” Peabody athletic director Bob Bua said. “Everything he does, whether it’s coaching or anything for the school, he always puts kids ahead of everything. That’s always been philosophy. Even (Sunday) at the ceremony he was inducted and as we were walking out there were kids running the 1,000 meter. He stopped and was watching those kids. It’s just the type of guy he is.”
Braz says he gets those qualities directly from his former coach.
“That’s exactly what George did,” Braz said. “The person comes first and the athlete second. You want to make kids feel good about themselves and then everything else comes along. It takes a lot of hard work too.”
Other 2020 inductees included Sean Furey (Methuen), Tamara Peeples-Mbengue (Weston), Leanne Burke Walker (Randolph), Dan Dillon (Chiopee), Larry Rawson (St. Mary’s, Waltham), and Bill McWilliams (Hanover).
