After four years of hard work, sweat, and a few tears, it is Canaan Tyson’s time to shine.

The Eastern Wayne senior spent the past few seasons playing the Warriors’ junior varsity basketball team. Still, this season, Canaan is finally ready for the big spotlight that comes with playing on the varsity level.

To get ready for basketball season, Tyson started running cross country, and he is already off to a fast start.

At an Eastern Carolina 3A/4A Conference cross country meet at the Bryan Multi-Sport Complex on Monday, Tyson completed the 5k race in 22 minutes, 19 seconds, and finished in 13th place.

“I started running cross country so that I could get in shape for basketball coming up,” Tyson said.

Tyson, who is this week’s Male Athlete of the Week, said he is enjoying running cross country and the chance to participate in any sporting event. Like many student-athletes, Tyson lost his junior to the COVID-19 pandemic, so Tyson is making the most of this season.

Tyson does not mind learning a new sport as a senior, his teammates on the cross country team are helpful, and Tyson said that being a team that functions as a cohesive unit is essential to him.

“Cross country has helped me a lot,” Tyson said. “You have to push through because it gets easier over time.”

While Tyson enjoys running cross country, his favorite sport is by fay basketball. Tyson started playing basketball when he was five years old, and it helped Tyson grow his confidence.

Now a senior, Tyson remembers being in middle school and hoping he could play high school basketball. And with the season starting in January, Tyson is ready to start living out his dreams.

Tyson is still undecided on college for next year. Still, he wants to attend the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and major in statistics and keep playing basketball if possible.

“I love basketball. That’s my passion,” Tyson said. “I learned a lot and saw stuff that I can work during COVID, so I’m just excited to start basketball season.”

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