By Sarah Gearhart

 

Mike Brannigan bounced on his feet in lane three as the clock ticked closer to 7:08 p.m., the start of the 2015 New Balance High School Boys’ Mile, part of the NYRR Millrose Games, the nation’s most prestigious indoor track meet, on Feb. 14.

The Northport High (N.Y.) senior appeared poised in his navy singlet and white shorts as he waved hello to the crowd before he gestured a cross sign from his forehead to the center of his chest then to his right and left shoulders three times.

 

“He loves these moments,” said Northport coach Jason Strom, who has coached Brannigan since he was in eighth grade. “He feels empowered out there. The hard part is trying to keep him relaxed.”

 

Earlier in the day, away from the shrieking 5,000 spectators and strings of reporters and photographers aligning the straightaway, away from the thunderous pounding of feet striking the track, Brannigan stretched in a quiet corner as he anticipated the event, which was to be televised on NBC Sports Network.

 

The competition featured some of the country’s most high-profile prep distance runners, including Greenwich Central (N.Y.) senior Jeremy Spiezio, who ran the No. 5 mile time in the nation (4:09.8) a week prior, as well as Germantown Academy (Pa.) senior Sam Ritz, who entered the race with the No. 7 mile time (4:10.5) in the country.

 

Each runner had to earn his way there. Brannigan, who has autism, was no different. He qualified after he clocked 4:13.30 in the mile at The Hispanic Games at The Armory Track & Field Center in New York in January. His dedication to the sport that has shaped his sense of purpose also helped him to develop into one of the top prep runners in the nation.

 

Brannigan has held his own and aspires to keep doing so at a Division-I college in the fall. Whether he’ll be eligible is still unclear.

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On the morning of The Millrose Games, Brannigan attempted to calm his excitement by watching “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.” He couldn’t help but feel fired up for this race — and every race and practice between — because that’s just been his temperament since he started running for the Rolling Thunder Special Needs Program, a Long Island-based nonprofit that trains mentally and physically challenged athletes.

 

At age 2, Brannigan was diagnosed with autism — recognized as a developmental disorder on a spectrum that is characterized by repetitive behaviors and difficulties with social interactions. His mother, Edith, noticed he wasn’t hitting his developmental milestones as an infant; he was mostly nonverbal, didn’t make eye contact and he never crawled. But he started to run at 10 months, often into walls.

Brannigan quickly learned how to channel his hyperactivity when Rolling Thunder coach Steve Cuomo encouraged him to run four miles on the track when he was 8 1/2 years old. Cuomo recalled that Brannigan appeared far from intimidated as he ran alongside other club runners who were in their early 20s.

Brannigan maintained that bold response as he continued to run on Northport’s varsity team as an eighth-grader — at the state meet his junior season, when he placed second overall, and last summer, when he won the two-mile in 8:53.59 at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, North Carolina.

 

The Millrose Games were no different.

He bolted after the start signal, his feet bouncing, his stride smooth and his arms anchored for momentum. Spiezio said he was prepared to hang on to his competitors and push the pace.

 

That included Brannigan, who made a move to second mid-way through the race. But Port Jefferson (N.Y.) senior James Burke outkicked to take the lead, and eventually the title, with a 4:11.25 final time. Spiezio (4:12.09) and Brannigan (4:12.69) finished second and third respectively.

 

Although Brannigan wanted to win, he was satisfied to place among the top three, a goal of his upon entering the race. Strom said Brannigan aimed to run 4:10, but he’ll have other opportunities to attempt that mark this season.

 

“I love his approach to the sport — just pure intensity,” Spiezio said of Brannigan. “He’s not afraid of the pain. I have a great deal of respect for his talent.”

Whether or not Spiezio will encounter it again at the next level is in question. Spiezio is bound for Princeton in the fall, and many other runners Brannigan has competed against at top cross country and track races — including Nike Cross Nationals, New Balance Nationals Outdoor and Foot Locker Cross Country Championships — are on their way to big-time programs, as well.

 

North Spokane (Wash.) senior Tanner Anderson is headed to Oregon; Gilbert (Iowa) senior Thomas Pollard, an All-American, committed to Iowa State; and Darien (Conn.) senior Alex Ostberg will attend Stanford, to name a few.

 

Edith Brannigan said her son’s academics have created a headache for his recruiting process and for satisfying the NCAA’s academic requirements.

 

All incoming student-athletes must have an academic and amateurism certification from the NCAA Eligibility Center. There are no separate guidelines for recruiting a student with an education impacting disability (EID). All students must meet the same academic standards.

 

Edith said Mike has had issues with some of the required core courses. He struggles with classes that aren’t numbers-oriented, and he requires a lot of tutoring. But, despite his academic challenges, Mike has thrived in athletics, and Edith said he has received attention from dozens of major programs.

 

Mike visited Hofstra University about two months ago, and last month he ventured to American University, where Matt Centrowitz, widely regarded as one of the top middle-distance and distance coaches in the country, leads the cross country and track teams.

 

Edith said Centrowitz has expressed serious interest in Mike, but if he is cleared to compete and enrolls in the school, he would require a lot of tutoring to stay academically eligible to run in college. Edith said there was discussion with American University about hiring a private tutor who is knowledgeable in autism to help Mike in college. She offered to pay for the expense.

 

Centrowitz declined to comment for this story.
 

Mike has already been offered a full-ride from Adelphi University, according to Edith. But he’s not interested in competing for a Division-II school.

“He feels he has earned the right to run at a Division-I school,” Edith said. “He’s worked twice as hard — on the track, in the classroom and socially — to get half as far as everybody else.”

Added Spiezio, “He has something to add to the sport — both with his talent and mind. His focus and love for the sport are evident.

“It would be a shame if he wasn’t able to compete next year because of his learning disability. Although I understand the rationale behind applying the same rules to Mikey as everyone else, I would truly be disappointed.”

As Brannigan awaits a response from the NCAA Eligibility Center, he is also in the process of getting licensed to compete in the 2016 Paralympics. Edith said that should her son not compete for a Division-I program, he might potentially train full-time to compete in the Paralympics.

“He’s got a bright future. Everything will be exactly the way it’s supposed to be, whether I like it or not. Mikey has a purpose, and it’s bigger than just winning a race,” Edith said.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. We’re taking it a day at a time.”