Following him being named FTHS March Athlete of the Month, the Patriot Press sat down with track and field star Ryder Anagnos!
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First of all, congrats!

– Thank you!

How does it feel to be the athlete of the month?

– It feels great. I put a lot of hard work in.

Is this the first time you’ve won?

– I think so, yeah.

What track events do you compete in?

– I compete in the triple jump and the long jump.

How did you get into those events?

– Freshman year my coach just put me in. I happened to be really good. I said no at first, but I changed my mind, did it, and won.

Are you glad that you changed your mind?

– Very glad, yes.

How did your college career materialize?

– All the hours that I put in behind the scenes leading up to that moment. Learning how to talk to coaches and communicate with them was the hard part. Getting to know the coaches and showing them how I am was a really big part of that.

Do you have a tip regarding how best to reach out to coaches?

– Always be yourself.

Have you won any titles recently?

– I just won the triple jump in the winter season. I won the Shore Conference title in 2019, my first year.

What’s the best part about Township’s track team?

– How unified we are. Everybody knows each other, everyone gives each other tips, and we’re all a team. Nobody is secluded or singled out.

Did you play any other sports previously?

– I did play football. I happened to get injured so I stopped that and focused on track.

Do you have any superstitions or pre-meet rituals?

– Praying. I always pray to God.

How do you train in the offseason? What is your secret to success?

– A lot of weight-room stuff. A lot of legs. Always in the weight-room. It leads up to track.

What’s the most challenging part of jumping? It’s not something a lot of people are able to do.

– Definitely getting steps right and the phases of the triple jump. They take a lot on your knees and a lot on your shins. It hurts sometimes but you have to push through it.

What is the best thing about jumping or track in general?

– Everybody works as a team to win. Everybody has to do their part to win the meet.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

– Definitely Greece. It’s very beautiful there and I love the people.

What is your favorite school subject and why?

– English. I’m very interested in poetry.

Do you have a professional inspiration?

– Definitely Paul George, the NBA player. I know he plays a different sport than I do but he’s been a huge inspiration.

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Here are some of Ryder’s accomplishments from March and a summary of his impact on the track team:

• Qualified for Meet of Champions in the Triple Jump
• Won the Triple Jump at the Rebel Field Meet prior to Meet of Champions
• His jump of 42’ 8.75’’ ranked as the 8th best jump in NJ at the time
• Ryder’s accomplishments have qualified him for the Meet of Champions. He has also recently committed to continuing his track & field career at Stockton University.