P.J. Lyons’ 15-year-old school record is hanging by a thread.

When it comes to boys track events, the 110-meter hurdles is the one still standing since he graduated from Manteca High in 2011. Now, he’s coaching his alma mater’s track and field program and mentoring its next great hurdling talent.

Brown is among the seven area athletes who has qualified for the 106th California Interscholastic Federation State Championships, but he’ll be the only one competing in multiple events.

He earned his spots by placing second in both the 110 and 300 hurdles during the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Finals last Saturday in Folsom. Brown broke his own school record in the 300 at 38.24 seconds, but it was his effort in the 110 that raises eyebrows.

The junior pushed reigning champion Josiah Amey of Inderkum until the end while threatening Lyons’ record, finishing with a runner-up time of 14.35 — just two-tenths shy of the mark.

“Just glad I could (qualify for state) this year after what happened last year,” Brown said. “I improved from last year, which shows that all the hard work I’m putting in is paying off.”

Last year, he played an integral part in the Buffaloes earning the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III team title, the first in program history. A week later, Brown sustained an ankle injury during the Masters trials, which hindered him in the 110 and 300 finals. He still managed to place sixth and seventh, respectively, but his expectation was to make it to state as a sophomore.

Brown came into this season believing that the 300 was his best event, but the massive improvement in the 110 says otherwise.

“It’s hard to be effective in both — one is rhythmic and technical, and the other is more about speed and endurance,” Lyons said. “Having both is a testament to him staying consistent in the workouts and buying into the program.”

Brown hadn’t previously cracked the 15-second barrier in the 110 but has done so eight times this season. His previous best was clocked at 14.63 in the Sacramento Meet of Champions, and one month later, he shaved nearly three-fifths of a second off that time.

“That was probably the best race I’ve ever had,” Brown said. “I’ve been practicing my starts, and before the race I wanted to make sure to attack the first hurdle.”

Brown blasted out of the blocks to take an early lead before Amey caught him in the final three hurdles.

As much as he improved his personal record in the race, it was far from perfect.

“He’s been having a lot of practices where we’ve seen the ability to go sub-14, it’s just a matter of putting it together on race day,” Lyons said. “He’s consistently putting together clean races where he’s good for six hurdles, or really good for seven or eight. We kind of gave up on running clean and wanted to see him be more aggressive, and it’s coming together finally.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if, under the right conditions, he breaks 14. He had a lead on one of the state leaders after six hurdles and then blew hurdle 8 and 10 and still PR’d.”

The state trials are on Friday at Buchanan High’s Veterans Memorial Stadium in Clovis. The three heat winners and six others with the fastest times advance to the Saturday finals.

“I hope to PR and move on to the next day,” Brown said.