By Jacob Horowitz
As the runners await the sound of the gun, they think only of outrunning their competitors. For Aayan Karigar, the desire to beat one specific runner is far stronger than his will to beat the other eight. That runner is himself.
Karigar, a senior at White Plains High School, has been running track since freshmen year. He is a determined athlete whose relationship with the sport is admirable and rare. Karigar is a competitor. He loves the adrenaline that comes with every stride, the competitive atmosphere, and the satisfaction that comes with seeing your opponent in the corner of your eye, just a few steps behind you. However, Karigar's relationship with track goes beyond the surface of racing.
“I enjoy running different forms and watching myself surpass my previous times,” Karigar said. This is a perfect reflection of Karigar's relationship with track. He runs in order to run faster.
Karigar's desire for self-improvement is always something that others surrounding him admire. When it comes to strengthening the mind and the body, nothing is stopping him from getting to where he wants to be, nor is he ever satisfied after completing his current goal. During track season, to set himself up for success, Aayan runs seven miles a day. Beyond that, he keeps up with his plyometrics throughout the year. During this time, he also fine tunes his sprinting and form, by running intervals and participating in strength training.
Karigar takes everything in life seriously. This applies to his intellectual life as well; his love for self-improvement blends well with his curiosity, resulting in a young man who, constantly on the hunt for new knowledge, can never get his nose out of a book.
Karigar represented the school's track team in both his freshman and sophomore years and plans to run again this year following a brief hiatus from the sport. He elevates the program not only with his blazing fast hurdle times, but with the energy he brings to the track. He is a supportive teammate who does everything he can to push his peers and encourage those competing alongside him.
Regarding his future, Karigar doubts the possibility of competing at the next level, however, maintains that he will carry lessons from track and field with him.
“It’s not likely that I see a future in track and field,” he said. “But I see a future that I use what I learned from track.”
Karigar says track has taught him a number of things; primarily, it has taught him how to have a healthy relationship with competition and how to take care of his body. Most of all, it has taught him how to achieve his self-improvement goals. Due to this, Karigar brings the competition outside of track, personalizes it, and applies the skills he has gathered to propel self-growth in every aspect of his life. Some could say Karigar is in a race on his own, and this is what makes him and his relationship with track unique and incomparable.
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