Kaleb Goldin (11) races past the finish line, his heart pulsing as a surge of exhilaration sweeps over him. For a brief moment after this final stretch, he’s unaware of the time of his sprint, but his coach’s voice breaks the tension with the final verdict: 10.88 seconds in the 100-meter dash. Kaleb has soared beyond his past limits and secured a new personal best.
At last month’s Tiger Invitational in Southern California, Kaleb shattered his own record by 0.2 seconds, placing sixth overall in the 100-meter dash. He attributed this accomplishment to his focus and determination while training on the track in the weeks prior.
“To cut down my time, I had to practice and just run,” Kaleb said. “I’m running six days a week for about two hours. Like in everything else I do, practicing lets me get better and be faster.”
Kaleb joined Harker’s track and field team in fourth grade, initially participating for recreational purposes. Now, seven years later, his steady commitment brings him success with the fastest 200-meter and 100-meter time on the varsity team.
The intensity of sprinting piques Kaleb’s interest because every fraction of a second counts, and the sensation of running rapidly is one he revels in.
The routine of training, the rush of adrenaline on the track and the bonds formed with teammates have all woven themselves into Kaleb’s life. Running transcends simply putting one foot in front of the other. It grounds him in all aspects of his life with discipline and focus. The lessons in perseverance he learns through track translate into success in his academics and overall well-being.
“Running track helps me with things outside of the sport, too,” Kaleb said. “It helps me do better in school because I’m able to use my energy to run, so I can focus more and also get better sleep.”
While track places a heavy emphasis on individual performance, Kaleb also triumphs during relays with other members of the varsity team on the 4×100 relay team. Teammate Brady Tse (10), who was a frosh when he met Kaleb, praises Kaleb for his positive attitude before their relays together.
“He’s a team person,” Brady said. “He always hypes up the team and gets our spirits up before our relays because we all warm up together. He’s saying his goals are for us and how we’re going to run really fast and do really well.”
In his athletic journey, he has also faced setbacks, including injuries. He suffered from a torn tendon in his sophomore year, which forced him to sit out during the rest of the season. Nevertheless, he took on the recovery process head-on to reclaim his position on the track with help from the athletic trainer and rebuilding his strength through other physical activities.
“Battling injuries is a challenge I’ve faced,” Kaleb said. “Even now, I’m still recovering from a torn tendon. I had to do a lot of physical therapy and other exercises, like biking. I missed out on a lot of my sophomore season, so this season, I’m trying to improve more. I’m hoping to improve my CCS ranking.”
Teammate Rushil Jaiswal (11) commends Kaleb’s devotion to the sport by always attending practice despite challenges like injuries.
“He’s one of the most determined athletes I’ve ever met,” Rushil said. “Kaleb’s determination to try to be his best has shown and his times today are evident because of the work he’s been putting in. He’s been showing up every day, injured or healthy, and you can see his passion for the sport.”