Morning Sentinel
Anderson ignores his doubts
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TRAVIS LAZARCZYK Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 05/31/2009

BATH -- The fastest athlete at Saturday's Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference track and field championship still hears the voice in the back of his head.

Was that a twinge, the voice says. Is your hamstring about to pop again?

"It's still in the back of my mind. I was really worried about whether it would hold or not," Messalonskee High School senior Erik Anderson said. "I've been going to the physical therapist for the past two months, and I'm glad it stayed."

It stayed, and now Anderson is in the position he wanted to be last year. Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A champion in the 100- and 200-meter sprints, and a contender for the state title in both events at next Saturday's Class A championship meet.

Anderson won both events with ease Saturday. While his 100 time of 11.28 seconds was a little slower than his season-best of 11.22, it was enough to win. In the 200 later in the day, Anderson took control about 75 meters in and never looked back. At the turn he was gone, winning with a time of 23.06.

It was on this same McCann Field track, at the KVAC meet last spring, that Anderson's hamstring was torn. The injury happened during the 100. As Anderson tried to push himself a little harder to the finish, the muscle gave out.

"I felt really strong. It was just one of those days, one of those small things that happen. You've got to do some more stretching. I was about 20 yards from the finish and it just came out," Anderson said.

The following week, Morse High School's Darrus Grate won the 100 and 200. Anderson expected to challenge Grate. Instead, he had to watch.

"I hated it so much," Anderson said. "I went seven months after my injury without doing anything."

Anderson didn't run again until the indoor track season, which was a success. He placed second at the Class A state meet in both the 55 (6.76 seconds) and 200 (23.35). The little voice was getting quieter. Not gone, but quieter.

"It's been a little sore on and off. I had to miss probably about two meets this year, but I think I came back and did what I had to do for my team here today, and I'm proud," Anderson said.

This spring, Anderson set a Messalonskee school record in the 100 with his 11.22 finish. He'll have plenty of competition at the state meet. Bangor's Tyler Pembroke won both the 100 and 200 at the Penobscot Valley Conference meet. August Ibekilo of Thornton Academy won the 100 in the Southern Maine Activities Association meet, while Imadhi Zagon of Portland took the 200. Jake Willis of Gorham and Westbrook's Dan Roukey are contenders in both sprints as well.

Luckily, Anderson listens more to his own big voice than the little one whispering doubts into his ear when he steps into the starting blocks. It's Anderson's big voice that could take him places. That's the voice that earned him a spot in the All-State Chorus, and it's the voice he used to sing the Mariah Carey song "Hero" at a recent tryout for "America's Got Talent."

"I find out in a few weeks whether I'm going to California for that or not," Anderson said.

It's his big voice Anderson will use if he decides to help coach the Lawrence track teams next year while he takes classes at the University of Maine at Augusta. After that, he hopes to transfer to the American Music and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan.

Thrilled to be the KVAC champ in two events, Anderson considered the question, what song would he sing to describe the meet? What song would drown out the hesitant little voice still hung up on a year-old injury?

"Today? 'Life is a Highway,' " Anderson said. "I feel like I was just cruising. Today was an amazing day."

Travis Lazarczyk -- 861-9242

tlazarczyk@centralmaine.com

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