Photos by Zezo Beshir & Robby Zhang
Q&A with Kyrah Mar and Sherman-Kadish, track and field athletes that broke Newton South discus and two mile records, respectively.
What’s your favorite thing about track?
Kyrah: Although its an individual sport, the team is just so great, so supportive, and then because it’s an individual sport, you’re kind of just competing against yourself.
Ilan: I like the bonds and community we have especially with the distance runners who are on the team all three seasons and even train together over the summer. You really form lifelong relationships.
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How long have you done track?
Kyrah: Four years. I started in 6th grade and then took a break due to COVID. I picked it back up freshman year. My older brother ran track and persuaded me to join.
Ilan: I started as a freshman, so this is my third year. I didn’t really know anybody coming into South as a freshman, since I’d come from private school. That’s kind of how I met people and made friends in the beginning.
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What’s your pre-game ritual?
Kyrah: I eat a pack of Ritz peanut butter crackers, like an hour or so before I throw. I drink a lot of water and I listen to some good chill music just to get into the right mindset.
Ilan: I like to take a couple laps of the field just listening to music really loud 15 to 20 minutes before I race.
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What do you think about while competing in your event?
Kyrah: I try not to get in my head. I find that that helps because you get into the circle and you’re alone. Just being excited to be there kind of calms me down so I can perform my bet.
Ilan: Running is always tough. I try to smile if I can because that makes it much less painful. I also let other people push the pace until you get into that last half mile, and then you really start picking it up.
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What does breaking the record mean to you?
Kyrah: That record is proof that I can succeed even though I’m not the biggest or the tallest of anyone. That sounds really cheesy, but its almost like a hurdle that I was able to get over.
Ilan: I think I broke the previous record by two seconds. The previous record had been in place since 2011, and I was hoping to get it by the end of high school.
