Clarence Round

Kylei Anderson, a talented athlete from West Bloomfield, Michigan, has been making her mark in spectacular fashion on the Oakland women’s track and field team. 

During her junior year of high school, she discovered that she wanted to pursue track. 

“At first, I was stuck on basketball, and then I started excelling in track and was like, maybe this could be for me,” Anderson said. “I think it was a lot of the coaches at the collegiate level that trusted in me, seeing something in me that made me think that I could do this.”

Specializing in hurdles and high jump, she is equally passionate about both events and has quickly established herself as a standout performer. 

“I always knew that I wanted to hurdle. I always knew I had something in the hurdles, but I also love jumping as well,” Anderson said. “There are two different energies that you bring to each one of them. High jump, you know, is very calm, and then hurdles, it’s just like, you know, you’re hyped up.” 

Choosing Oakland

With multiple offers on the table, including Michigan State, Central Michigan, Indiana Tech and Grand Valley, she knew Oakland was where she wanted to be. For her, many things played a part in her decision to become a Golden Grizzly. 

“I would say it was the coaches that recruited me. I could see that they were really going to work with me and get me to a point where I wanted to be because I always wanted to be better,” Anderson said. “Everyone brings a different energy, and it’s just fun, and then, of course, I love Oakland’s campus; it’s just beautiful.”

Competing at the Division I level

Even with the differences between hurdling and high jumps, Anderson ensures she trains at 100%, focusing on technique, strength training and speed work. Maintaining her body’s health is essential for effective training, and her commitment to self-care is crucial throughout her routine. 

During her freshman year, Anderson’s confidence surged when she made significant progress. 

“I did not expect to drop 0.6 (seconds) off a fast hurdle. Usually, you cut off 0.2, and you’re like, okay, you know you’re getting there, but I had over a half a second drop, and I was like, I think I can do more every race. I think the results just gave me confidence,” Anderson said. 

Anderson had an outstanding first year and shattered several records along the way. She clocked an impressive 8.69 seconds in the outdoor 60-meter hurdles, achieved an outdoor freshman record of 14.13 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles and set an indoor freshman record of 8.69 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles. Her rise through the ranks speaks volumes about her talent. 

So, what’s next for the track star?

Anderson looks forward to the upcoming season with great enthusiasm, ready to embrace new challenges, build on her skills and continue to compete at an elite level. 

​​”I want to move up some places and keep breaking records,” Anderson said.

With the support of her teammates and coaching staff, she’s excited to see all of her hard work pay off. Beyond the track, she is fully committed to her studies in exercise science, preparing for her bright future ahead of becoming a physical therapist. As she continues to push boundaries and set new standards, her ambitions become limitless.