Today: Dec 09, 2024

Athlete chooses track and field over basketball in college

Jared Klim – Special to the Southern News 

Often in life people are faced with what seems like a small decision at the time, but can affect a person’s life in a major way down the road.

This was the case for junior track and field athlete Michael Lee. Lee, in the winter of his junior year of high school, had to choose between continuing to play basketball, a sport that he had played most of his life, or choose a sport that he could possibly turn into an education.

“I just did it for fun until I realized that I could excel more in track and go to college for it and that’s when I got introduced to long jump and triple Jump which got me here,” Said Lee.

Before hitting the campus of Southern Connecticut State University Lee was born on Staten Island to his parents Regina and Michael. He grew up with the game of basketball playing it up through his junior year of high school.

He earned All-New England, All-State All-Area and All-conference honors at track and field as well as holding the school record for long jump at New London high school according to SCSU athletics.

As an Owl, Lee hit his stride at the triple jump and long jump events. That success earned him All-Region and All-New England in the triple jump as a freshman. Southern head coach John Wallin said as Lee has gotten older, he has became a leader of the track team.

“Mike is a very passionate guy,” he said. “He likes to yell and scream to get kids excited. He’s very motivating for a lot of people. So having him on the team means a lot to everybody because he is such a vocal person and obviously he is such a good athlete so that helps too.”

As sophomore and now a junior captain, Lee has produced constantly for the Owls as one of the team’s top athletes. As a junior Lee made it to the NCAA qualifier and All-region in both the long jump and triple jump. And this success has served as a great example for his teammates.

“He leads by example by showing you that hard work really will take you far. His energy transfers to you and everyone in the gym,” said sophomore thrower Kyle Upton. “So If you are having a bad day he will lift you up and make you have a better day and that is just how he works of the field, in class that’s just how he is. The southern track and field has a real sense of team.”

Lee said it has been the Southern way that has driven him throughout his career for the Owls.

“Since I have been here and before me,” he said. “It’s always about being the best, and we do that from the best guy to the worst guy. We make sure everybody has a role on the team.”

With Lee and the rest of the captain’s leadership, Southern hopes to improve from last year’s impressive finish with a strong performance at regionals in late February.

As Lee moves into the end of this indoor season, he said he hopes to improve off of last season as an All-American, as well as achieving All-Regional and All-New England honor in the triple jump and long jump, and down the road get his degree in sports management.

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