Robin Glynn – General Assignment Reporter –
Michael Cameron’s teammates say he may look like a big tough guy, but although he’s six-feet tall, he’s really a teddy bear.
Cameron, sophomore, has become a powerhouse for the track and field team in shot put, discus and weight throw.
“I am a very competitive guy,” said Cameron.
John Wallin, the head of the men’s track and field team, said Cameron is a great guy.
“He is one of the nicest kids on the team,” said Wallin. “He is explosive, he works hard.”
Wallin said Cameron is young and does well learning, but is still figuring out how to compete.
“He looks strong, but he is stronger than he looks,” Wallin said.
Cameron said he was always interested in athletics.
“I wanted to find something to do,” said Cameron. “A coach showed me the sport and I stuck with it.”
Cameron broke the school record in the shot put at the New England Championships for both indoors and outdoors. Cameron finished in second-place with a 17.78m. Cameron’s 17.78m mark was an NCAA provisional mark, and he is ranked fifth nationally in the event. This helped the Owls finish in seventh place at the all-division New England Championships
“I am very happy,” said Cameron. “It hasn’t set in, but I saw it coming. I am very proud of last week and I hope it doesn’t stop there.
Cameron qualified for the NCAA Divison II Men’s Indoor Track and Field Championships, entering the shot put with the No. 6 seed after a record breaking throw at the New England Championships.
As a freshman, Cameron was the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference champion in the discus, All-Region in the shot put, discus and weight throw and All-New England in the shot put, and this season, Cameron has been named athlete of the week.
Also during his freshman season, Cameron opened the year at Yale and finished in sixth place in the weight throw with a toss of 13.39m, he also placed seventh at the Metropolitan Championships in the shot put with a 14.82m toss.
“I am proud to be considered for those awards,” said Cameron, who said that when you do a sport, once your good, your good.
Logan Sharpe, Cameron’s teammate, said Cameron is using his experience on the track and field team as a stepping stone.
“He has higher goals, possibly the Olympics,” said Sharpe.
Cameron said that is a dream of his.
“I am more mindful of setting my goals too high to be let down.”
Cameron said he would have like to be in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio De Janeiro.
“I am working one day at a time,” said Cameron.
Wallin said that everyone has dreams, but to make it to the Olympics, an athlete has to hit a high standard.
“Skies the limit,” said Walling about Cameron and his possibilities in track and field.
Before Southern, Cameron attended Jamaica College in Jamaica. Cameron is a bronze medalist in the Penn Relays and team MVP. He spent two-years as team captain and earned medals in competitive action.
Cameron said he was being recruited by division one school, but he had trouble qualifying for recruitment.
“Southern was the only school to stick by me,” said Cameron, who finds competing for the Track and Field team as a way to give back.
Cameron is looking forward to the next few years at Southern and what it will bring.
