Moorhead
Behind him is a group of future sprinters doing agility drills. In front of him is the chance to continue what has been a historic season.
These two situations are what define Moorhead sophomore sprinter Brady Andersen.
Andersen comes into today's Minnesota state track meet at Hamline University in St. Paul having qualified in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the 400-meter relay.
"I am really nervous because it is going to be a really long day," Andersen said. "A really long day against the best in the state. I'm a 10th grader going up against all seniors."
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Knowing how Andersen got to this point is looking back at last year.
As a freshman he started showing signs he could be a promising sprinter. Moorhead boys track coach Jon Moe said the talent was there, but something was missing.
"I think it's all confidence," Moe said. "I commend the guys like (Moorhead football coach) Kevin Feeney and the staff that makes them do plyometrics in the winter."
Andersen said he was put on a strength training program which consisted of weight lifting and agility drills.
As he spoke, there was an agility drill going on right in front of him. The drill specifically focused on balance and quickness.
"With a drill like that," Andersen said. "It can be easy. It's only easy if you are not doing what coaches tell you to do. When you do what they tell you, that's where it gets hard."
Hard is certainly the operative word to look at Andersen's objectives. He will have to run three times today in about two hours during the Class 2A preliminaries.
If he does well enough to reach the finals in all three, he has to run all three on Saturday in about two hours.
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"It's certainly a lot of work to get there for all your events," Andersen said.
jumpe Andersen, from D1
Moe has faith that Andersen can do well in all three events. So does Austin Moon, a junior captain who runs with Andersen on the relay team that features two freshmen.
Moon, along with being the leader of the track team, is easily Andersen's biggest fan.
"I can't believe Brady was just a little freshman last year," Moon said. "I don't really think he realized his potential so that's why I decided to work with him. I knew what he could be doing, I believed in him from the start."
What makes Moon so excited is the first time he saw Andersen race as a freshman. Andersen was outracing his competition but Moon noticed he would slow up at the end of his races.
He compared it to that of Jamaican speedster and Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt but in a "non-showboat" kind of way.
"He was like that because that's what kids did in middle school," Moon said. "He just didn't really know how to finish. I told him, 'once you learn how to finish you'll be going to state.' "
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For Andersen, all that remains is to finish at state.
"He has so much potential," Moon said. "I wouldn't be surprised if he won it all. Sky's the limit for that kid."
Readers can reach Forum reporter
Ryan S. Clark at (701) 241-5548.
Clark's Force blog can be found
at slightlychilled.areavoices.com
