Every spring, hundreds of athletes fill Norma and Lamar Hunt Family Stadium for the Bradley V. Urschel Track & Field Invitational, one of the largest track meets in North Texas. The event, known as the BVU, serves not only as a place to foster competition, but also to honor one of St. Mark’s greatest athletes and the values he represents.
Bradley V. Urschel ’79 served as captain of the football, basketball and track teams and was class president. While he excelled in all sports, Urschel stood out especially on the track, finishing second at the U.S. Junior Championships in the decathlon, a 2-day, 10-event competition encompassing all parts of track and field. After graduating from St. Mark’s, Urschel studied neuroscience at Princeton University where he was a wide receiver on the football team and a decathlete on the track. In 1984, Urschel took a year off from medical school to train for the 1984 Olympic games; however, his dream of representing the country fell apart while traveling to an Olympic trial qualifier.
“Brad was in a serious car accident. He was thrown from a car, and the car rolled over on him. He suffered traumatic brain and physical injuries,” track and field head coach John Turek said. “He was not expected to live and was in a coma for 30 days until he woke up on Christmas and was told he was never going to be normal again.”
In the years that followed, Urschel dealt with paralysis, memory loss and the challenge of rebuilding his life. Still, he presses on and now brings hope and inspiration to others through his ministry, Spirit In Brad. In 1997, Urschel’s story and character inspired Turek to name the new St. Mark’s track meet in his honor.
“He’s the head of a youth group in a church and goes to head trauma places and talks with injured people. He’s a great inspiration to never give up… he refuses to be a victim,” Turek said. “I love his diehard attitude and I think other people can learn from him not giving up hope. I’m in awe of him.”
Urschel still comes every year to watch the meet and talk with athletes, coaches and parents. Track and field captain Omar Jenkins developed a deep respect for Urschel from the moment the two first interacted.
“Mr. Urschel is one of the nicest people I’ve ever known. When I first met him, he treated me with respect,” Jenkins said. “We had a whole conversation about keeping Christ first and he asked me what events I did, how I felt about my season and what was going on in my life. He’s just a very kind person.”
Over the decades, the event has grown into the largest all-private schools meet in the metroplex.
“This year, we had 901 athletes from 27 high schools and 14 middle schools,” Turek said. “I only let in private schools because those schools don’t get the same chance to compete and get recognition, and I want everyone to get their recognition.”
To host, Turek, Don Denman and Lions’ athletes spend countless hours preparing the throwing field and track area for competition.
“We get here early in the morning. We set up tents, get all the throwing equipment, snacks, medals. We make sure we have the correct starting blocks and that everyone gets proper hydration,” Jenkins said. “All that work is for one day, then we do the whole thing again the next day.”
While the event may require much effort, Turek and the team take pride in displaying the best of the school.
“It’s a chance to showcase St. Mark’s facilities, the St. Mark’s team and our whole community. We are blessed with some of the best facilities in the state of Texas, but what you do with those facilities is the key,” Turek said. “St. Mark’s believes ‘if you’re going to do something, do it right,’ and I have carried that mantra since I started here 33 years ago.”
A special part of hosting the event is that all Lions’ track members get to compete as part of the team instead of the select members chosen to represent the school at other events.
“It’s an awesome opportunity we get once a year to really show off all the hard work we’ve been putting in,” Jenkins said. “This could possibly be someone’s entire season, what they’ve been training up for. All the work they put in leads up to this.”
Turek has been in charge of the meet for over 20 years. During this time, countless personal bests, school records, and team accomplishments have happened at the BVU. Still, one of Turek’s most special memories comes from the dedication of the event to Urschel in 1997.
“When his parents came out and just the magnitude of the moment, Brad was just beside himself,” Turek said. “The kids do a great job, but that was the highlight.”
