Kaitlyn Kupiec
@kaitlynkupiec
Whether it’s reading the Holy Bible before a track meet or watching food videos the night before, Michael Anderson and Michael Scott have discovered the routines that suit them best, leading to their names claiming a spot in the Springfield College record book.
Prior to every track meet, first-year standout Anderson gains confidence and motivation by turning to the Holy Bible, where he reads three verses in the mornings to obtain the right mindset. Most importantly, he never forgets to wear his USA socks and his black American flag cross chain on meet day.
Although some may say luck and superstitions may be involved, it’s hard work that allows you to earn a top spot.
At a young age, Anderson and his older brother Kyle both played little league soccer and dabbled a bit in lacrosse. The Anderson brothers both deal with Stargardt disease, which is a rare genetic eye disease that happens when fatty material builds up on the macula.
“My brother taught me that we’re all different and on different journeys, so do what you want to do and don’t care about how people see you,” said Anderson.
Anderson first began running in sixth-grade. After always being one of the fastest on his youth track teams, he took off with hurdles his senior year at Cromwell High School in Cromwell, Conn. From there, his coach talked him into running at the college level.
“Our team is a big goofy family,” said Anderson. “When Springfield was recruiting me last year, I thought that was just the spiel that every college was going to give me, but being here now, I realized that they weren’t kidding.”
In his second semester at Springfield, Anderson has already tied a school record. On Feb. 3, in the Bomber Invitational at Ithaca College, Anderson recorded a time of 8.35 in the preliminary heat of the 60-meter hurdles, tying the record that was established in 2019 by Damian Mackay-Morgan.
“I’m excited that I tied it, but it’s also sour and sweet because I tied it to the thousandth of a second,” said Anderson. “The job’s not done. It means I have more to improve on, and I have a lot more time to make that record.”
At the same meet, Scott, a top junior sprinter, won the 60-meter dash with a record-breaking time of 6.85, beating the previous record of 6.86 that Stephen Headley ran in 2008.
“After running prelims, I looked up at the board, and I was like, ‘Oh, shoot, I just ran 6.88,’ but I realized my eyes just weren’t adjusted yet because I had just ran all out,” said Scott. “My eyes adjusted, and it said 6.98, and I was like, ‘Okay, that makes a lot more sense.’ And then, when this happened in the finals, I looked up and saw a 6.85 on the board and thought the same thing happened with my eyes, but it didn’t change, and I realized I broke the record.”
To date, it’s the 12th fastest time in Division III this season.
To help Scott relax his nerves, the night before every meet he watches food videos on YouTube.
“There’s no speaking, and it’s just very relaxing,” said Scott.
Before running at the college level, COVID hit during Scott’s junior year at Mounds View Senior High School in Arden Hills, Minn. There, he decided he wanted to work on himself to reach his goal of running track in college. While being isolated and not having much to do, his hometown gym was still open, where he began working out a lot. Scott became a lot stronger and realized he had a chance to compete at the college level. During Scott’s senior year at Mounds View, he reached out to the head coach at Springfield and was told he had a spot on the team if he were to attend.
“Our team is social, but most importantly, welcoming,” said Scott. “We have lots of different personalities, and we’ve built a culture to the point where everybody that joins the team gets accepted. We love everyone for who they are, no matter what.”
Photos Courtesy of Springfield College Athletics