Scattered iron pills lie in the shadow of Michelle Cates’ track spikes—a quiet reminder of the daily battle she faces with anemia. While she soars over hurdles in competition, moments like this reveal the strength it takes just to reach the starting line.
Michelle Cates openly shares her struggle with anemia with her teammates, leaning on them when she needs support. She sees her team as a family—each person offering strength, encouragement, and love, even if some bonds run closer than others.
Senior Michelle Cates balances a full academic load at Piedmont University—studying documentary film production and mass communications—while dominating on the track as a standout student-athlete. Her resilience shines just as brightly off the track as it does when she’s clearing hurdles.
Because Piedmont University doesn’t have a track of its own, the team trains and competes at Habersham Central High School’s track—a place that became pivotal in Michelle Cates’ journey. It was here that her coach first noticed the signs something was wrong and encouraged her to get tested, setting off the chain of answers that finally explained the challenges she’d been silently battling.
As Michelle Cates soars over each hurdle, the world often spins with her. Her anemia can leave her lightheaded, dizzy, and at risk of passing out—but she keeps leaping anyway. This blurred moment captures not just her speed, but the battle her body fights with every stride
In the quiet moments before the start, Michelle Cates leans into the blocks with a strength most never see. Behind this silhouette is an athlete fighting fatigue, dizziness, and the unpredictable waves of anemia—yet still choosing to rise, reset, and run.
Michelle Cates loves cheering on her teammates, pushing them toward their goals with the same energy and encouragement she brings to every race. Supporting others is one of the things that keeps her grounded, even on the days her anemia makes the journey harder.
Between bursts of speed and moments of strength, Michelle Cates sometimes has to pause—her anemia catching up with her faster than any opponent ever could. Even in these still moments at the starting line, she refuses to quit, steadying herself before pushing forward again.
A close-up of Michelle Cates’ custom spikes reveals the message she carries with her into every race: “I am limitless.” It’s a reminder she laces up before every meet—a quiet promise to herself to push past the dizziness, fatigue, and challenges anemia brings, and to give everything she has on the track.
With the sun at her back and the track stretching out in front of her, Michelle Cates settles into the starting blocks with quiet determination. Even on days when anemia makes her body feel heavy and her mind foggy, this moment—focused, grounded, and unbreakably strong—is where she reminds herself why she runs.
Piedmont Photojournalists 