HAVRE — Brett Glaser knows a thing or two about injuries. The Glasgow senior has had three major surgeries in his high school career, yet still finds a way to do it all for the Scotties’ track and field team.
When healthy, Glaser competes wherever his coaches put him. Last season, he made it to the State B meet in the 400-meter dash, shot put, long jump and triple jump, where he placed second.
“I don’t want to get bored doing just one event. I don’t want to specialize. But, no, I love it. It’s fun,” Glaser said. “Variety keeps you going. Keeps different muscle groups moving all the time, so it’s pretty cool.”
Shot put has been Glaser’s only event this year as he works to recover from a foot surgery he had in January. Glaser placed fourth in two meets this year, including a mark of 41 feet, 3.5 inches at the Wibaux Invitational last Saturday.
Glaser said his main goal for this season is a state championship in the triple jump, although he’d like to place in as many events as he can.
In addition to his foot surgery, Glaser has had two back surgeries since his sophomore year. The first surgery put Glaser in a wheelchair, where he mirrored his father Todd, a teacher at Glasgow High School. Todd suffered a spinal injury in 2006.
“He’s very proud. I do it for him. I do it for me and him both. It makes me happy knowing that he can watch me in stuff like this,” Glaser said. “I wouldn’t be where I am without him today.”
His father’s condition inspired Glaser to push through his own injuries and make it to the next level. Glaser will compete for the North Dakota State Bison track and field team next season, where he’ll reunite with former Glasgow teammate Benji Phillips.
“He (Phillips) kind of convinced me a little bit. He convinced me to take a visit. At first I never thought I’d be going that far away to school,” Glaser said. “In Glasgow, eight hours is nothing, living in the middle of nowhere. And I saw the great program that they had and I knew exactly where I wanted to go and it was where I wanted to be.”
