Stan is the Man for M. Track

Penn senior Stan Anderson has become a leader both on and off the field. Penn senior Stan Anderson is not one of those athletes who is all talk and no substance. Quite the contrary, he combines uncanny natural talent with a quiet disposition. The Washington, D.C., native began competing for the St. Alban's High School track team in his freshman year, following in the footsteps of his older sister -- who also competed in high school -- and his brother, who finished his track career at Penn. "I did basketball, soccer and baseball and then I got sick of baseball so I jumped on track," Anderson said. "Freshman year in high school I started triple jumping and I started high jumping junior year." As his senior year approached, Anderson started looking at schools, with Penn as his first choice. Although he was jumping well in high school, he was not recruited anywhere. "In high school we didn't go to any high-profile meets and I think that's why no one really knew about me," Anderson said. "We didn't have state meets, where a lot of coaches go. That's where they look to see who the state champions are." Anderson contacted Penn coach Nathan Taylor when he knew he wanted to go to Penn. He applied early and was accepted before finishing high school with an excellent spring track season that increased his chances of competing at the collegiate level. "I wasn't sure if I was going to do athletics in college, I just knew I had some schools in mind that I wanted to go to," Anderson said. "If I could do track there, yeah, I would try out." When Anderson arrived on campus in the fall of 1995, he joined the track team as a walk-on. "He kind of called coach Taylor and was like 'I'm coming,'" former teammate Robin Martin said. "His first jump at his first meet, he jumped one of the top 10 jumps in Penn history, so we knew from that point on that he was a real great talent." Anderson solidified his position as one of the key performers on the team with the outstanding season that followed. "I was really excited because I had been training all fall," Anderson said. "By December, I was ready to go. There were no expectations of me, I just came out there excited, and I wanted to contribute and show that I could be a part of the team. I PR'ed by like a foot." Anderson's work ethic and natural talent have propelled him to the top in his events. He was named to the All-East team as a freshman triple jumper and followed with a win at the Eastern triple jump at the Penn Relays the following year. Since then, he has put up numerous top-10 finishes in indoor and outdoor Heps and IC4As. Anderson also holds the all-time Penn record for the high jump. "Every year has like one or two studs and his class was like Dan Nord and Stan," Penn high jumper Bob Barlett said. "We're definitely going to miss him -- you look up to people who do well and lead by their excellence. Stan does that." During the indoor season this year, Anderson finally broke out with a first-place finish at IC4As on his final jump. He was extremely pleased to end the season on a winning note in spite of the fact that he did not get to compete at the NCAAs. "He shows me what competing on the college level is all about," Penn freshman Tuan Wreh said. "He showed it at IC4As, coming back on the last attempt and just taking that win away from Georgetown, and I aspire to be like him one day." Many of Anderson's teammates look to him for leadership and as an example, in spite of the fact that he is so soft-spoken. He never talks about his incredible athletic ability. He doesn't have to. "There are two different kinds of leaders," Barlett said. "You have vocal leaders and people who lead by example,and Stan's more of a person who leads by what he does. He leads by the hard work he puts in everyday." "He's a real great guy, real soft-spoken," Martin said. "He's not an outward show of being excited all of the time but when you look in his eyes when he's competing he's all fire." During the upcoming outdoor season, Anderson would like to jump farther and break his trend of better indoor seasons than outdoor. He is hoping to compete at the national level in the spring and will then decide if he can continue his track career after graduation. "I'd like to qualify for Nationals," Anderson said. "The standard is higher and I'd like to actually go. I'd like to see how the season goes, to see what my potential is, and to see what kind of options I have. I couldn't imagine training as hard as I do right now, on my own and not affiliated with the school." One thing is for sure, however. After Anderson graduates with a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, the team will miss his leadership, reliable performance and subtle sense of humor. "Stan's a fun guy and I really enjoy being around him," Barlett said. "I am going to miss him and [senior] Rich [Carlson]. I came here as the lone high jumper my freshman year, and I've always joked with Rich and Stan, like 'What am I going to do when they're gone next year?' and I am kind of worried. There will be a great void when Stan's gone." Barlett is not the only Quaker that will miss Anderson and his leadership. "Stan makes me want to be a better track athlete," said Nord, the team's captain. One Caucasian teammate payed Anderson an interesting compliment. "He makes me want to be a tall black guy who can triple jump really well."

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