Sid Shirke—He’s a Runner He’s a Trackstar

Name: Sid Shirke

Grade: Sophomore

Events: 400-meter and 200-meter
Height: 5’11’’

When and why did you start track? What inspired you to join the Stuyvesant team?

I started track in the fall of freshman year because one of my Big Sibs was on the track team, and he told me about the community and the work ethic it promotes. What really made me want to join was that when I first went to some of the preseason practices, I saw how dedicated everyone was, how good of a community it was, and how much I could improve and see myself on the team.

What is the hardest part of track in your opinion? What do you like the most about track, and what do you like the least?

The hardest part is definitely the workouts outside in the heat—like repeats, where we sprint, get barely any rest, and then sprint again. 

I like a lot more about track than I dislike. What I like the least is that usually in a season you only have, maybe, two or three opportunities to actually race, so if you mess up, it really matters. Though that’s also good because it increases the pressure.

What I like most about track is that, unlike a lot of other sports, it’s really just [about] your own performance. You can work hard, improve, and actually see [results] come out. In a team sport, you can blame it on other people or get let down by your team, but in track it’s all on you.

What is your proudest moment in your track career so far?

My proudest moment is winning Manhattan Borough’s as a sophomore just a few weeks ago. It was really close and it came down to the finish line, and I beat him by like a hundredth of a second. It was a really good race. It was a testament to all the work we put in as a team and individually—being able to go out there, perform, and hunt him down to get the win.

I started in lane four, so you start behind most of the field. At around 300 meters, I was in third or fourth place, and in the last 50 meters, I caught him—literally five meters before the finish. It was really just digging deep, going back to those practices, and leaving it all out there in the 400-meter.

What is your starting routine before the race starts?

I always go out with the rest of the team and we warm up together—stretches, jogs, sprints, [and] handoffs if we have a relay. I listen to music sometime before I race. It’s really just stretching, getting ready, and doing it all as a team. I also always pull the Noah Lyles [move], and hurdle or jump off the ground before I start racing.

What are you looking forward to the most next track season?

Next track season, I’m looking to get to Nationals for an individual event. We’ve been going to Nationals for relays, but I want to get there for an individual event and do something there. That’s definitely something exciting.

Are you looking to do track in college?

Yeah, I’ve gone on a couple of college tours and started reaching out to some coaches. I definitely plan on trying to get recruited to a D3 school with good academics. I could probably walk on at a D2 or D1, but I’d rather get recruited at D3 and prioritize the academics while still doing track in college.

Favorite Teammate: Kahil Fisher. He’s always very funny and locked in at practice. He brings up the vibes.

Favorite Drink: Water. I like to stay healthy.

Favorite Post-meet meal/snack: Shakes from Shake Shack. Not very healthy, but we need to replenish our calories and carbs after a meet.

Hobbies: Parli Debate, listening to music, reading, video games

Track Pet Peeve: When teammates are always complaining at practice

If You Could Play Any Other Sport: Soccer, because I actually played in middle school. I wasn’t as good at it, but I definitely enjoyed it.

Favorite Song: “Kilby Girl” by Backseat Lovers

Favorite Shoe: Nike Max Flys