November Athlete of the Month

Kailey Kilraine

November+Athlete+of+the+Month

And the winner has been announced! Junior Patrick Sarad has been announced as the November Athlete of the Month by the Chicago Tribune. Patrick was up against 2 other athletes in the area , Khris Vicencio from Elmwood Park and Haley Fakouri from Fenwick. The Chicago Tribune identified his best run with a time of 16 minutes and 20.4 seconds at Chicago’s Washington Park and how he brought in a 5th place at the Class 3A Young Regional with a total of 64 points Leyden earned to advance to the Lake Park Sectionals.

Sarad has been a key asset to the Leyden Varsity team and he makes sure he works hard to maintain his goals. It most definitely paid off when he found out he was nominated. “I was pretty surprised to be nominated. I didn’t expect it whatsoever. But I’m really happy that I was nominated and won the athlete of the month award. I’m grateful for everyone that voted me. The support really boosted me to strive for more and try harder.” As the fall season this year has closed for the year, Sarad makes sure he keeps working hard in the off season as well. As he prepares for track in the spring, he doesnt let the winter weather stop him from training. “After the season and before the season I do run to prepare myself for the next sport, whether it is track or cross country.

During the winter and during the summer I keep running and doing the workouts given to me by my coaches to make sure I don’t lose my running condition.” With this hard work, Sarad’s nomination won him a commemorative plaque presented by Country Financial and his school received a $500 prize. Sarad’s passion and drive for running and success has shown us that if you put in the work, it will pay off even when you least expect it.