A SYMPHONY OF ONE WELLS-ANDERS RUNS TO OWN BEAT.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News Chris Wells-Anders doesn't remember the deafening cheers or the thumping of opponents' footsteps in close pursuit as he raced down the backstretch back·stretch n. The part of an oval racecourse farthest from the spectators and opposite the homestretch. in the 800 meters at the 1999 City Section finals. No, what the El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
second-place finish finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the . ``During the 800, I am like a machine,'' Wells-Anders said. ``I am thinking about music until the very end.'' Wells-Anders is an accomplished classical pianist who began playing at age 5. He has mastered challenging works such as Rachmaninoff's 12th Prelude, the Chopin Fantaisie-impromptu and Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. An aspiring concert pianist and producer, Wells-Anders practices three hours daily and participates in numerous recitals and competitions. In track, Wells-Anders posted the state's fourth-fastest mark of 1 minute, 53.46 seconds at the Mt. San Antonio College Mt. San Antonio College (commonly called Mt. SAC; pronounced as the word "sack") is a community college located in the Los Angeles suburb of Walnut, California, next to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona which is just over a hill. Mt. Relays in April - the top mark by a City runner this season. He labels concentration as the common thread to both disciplines. ``You cannot over-focus when you are playing or you will hit the wrong notes,'' Wells-Anders said. ``You can't worry about a particular section, you have to take everything equally. In track, if I psyche myself out. I will fall apart.'' Wells-Anders likes to go by ``Crazy Legs,'' a nickname embroidered em·broi·der v. em·broi·dered, em·broi·der·ing, em·broi·ders v.tr. 1. To ornament with needlework: embroider a pillow cover. 2. on his warm-up jacket for his long and flailing stride. Teammates, though, have christened him ``Phantom of the Opera'' for the spine-tingling sounds produced from the electronic keyboard An electronic keyboard or digital keyboard is a type of keyboard instrument. Its sound is generated or amplified by one or more electronic devices. Modern usage of the term "electronic keyboard" typically describes a type of inexpensive synthesizer marketed to he often brings to school. Classical music is Wells-Anders' preference. Friends, though, are more intrigued by his ability to play R&B and rap songs by ear off CDs and the radio. ``I don't really like rap,'' he said. ``It gets on my nerves. The notes are so simple. I can play about anything if I hear it enough times.'' It is a talent his father Randy Anders spotted when his son began pounding out tunes on a toy piano The toy piano is a musical instrument, made as a child's toy, but which has also been used in more serious musical contexts. The instrument was invented in Philadelphia in 1872 by a German immigrant named Albert Schoenhut. as a toddler. Formal music training soon followed. Wells-Anders, the lone musician in the family, has been with the same instructor for the last 12 years. ``He was making sounds on this tiny piano,'' Anders said. ``It was almost as if he were playing everything he heard.'' This season, Wells-Anders has continued a dramatic progression in the 800 that began with his second-place finish Noun 1. second-place finish - a finish in second place (as in a race) runner-up finish finish - designated event that concludes a contest (especially a race); "excitement grew as the finish neared"; "my horse was several lengths behind at the finish"; "the as a sophomore in the City final in 1:57.03, an improvement of seven seconds over his freshman season. It's more impressive considering his cross county season ended thanks to a knee injury and a freak accident in practice when he sliced open his knee - a laceration laceration /lac·er·a·tion/ (las?er-a´shun) 1. the act of tearing. 2. a torn, ragged, mangled wound. lac·er·a·tion n. 1. A jagged wound or cut. 2. that required 15 stitches. Wells-Anders, though, has come back stronger than ever. He finished second in the open race in the Arcadia Invitational in·vi·ta·tion·al adj. Restricted to invited participants: an invitational golf tournament. n. An event, especially a sports tournament, restricted to invited participants. Adj. 1. and notched a victory at the Mt. SAC Relays. He has set his sights on a state title and taking down the City championship meet record of 1:50.44 before he's through. Even, perhaps, this season. The first step came in Friday's victory in the West Valley League finals. Next up is Thursday in the City preliminaries at Birmingham High, and then the section finals May 25. ``Some of his goals may seem outlandish out·land·ish adj. 1. Conspicuously unconventional; bizarre. See Synonyms at strange. 2. Strikingly unfamiliar. 3. Located far from civilized areas. 4. Archaic Of foreign origin; not native. , but I can't imagine what he is going to do to reach them,'' El Camino Real coach Vic Lepesto said. ``He is focused and works very hard whether it's track or his music. He has gotten stronger and he has done very well in exposure to real serious competition.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Whether behind the keyboard or in front of the pack, El Camino Real's Chris Wells-Anders is used to excelling. Kirby Lee/Special to the Daily News |
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