As his feet hit the track and the finish line approaches, Holt speeds towards the end, his heart poundng in his throat. The stopwatch stops, and he looks up. He has just broken a school-wide record and CMS record for the 300 indoor.
Senior Andrew Holt has become a huge success this season, both on and off East Meck turf. In
his time at East, he has soared above and beyond, qualifying for nationals twice, and built a reputatuion as one of the most hard-working athletes this year.
Holt’s journey started long before these wins. Since his sophomore year, Holt has been dedicated to becoming not just a better athlete, but a better person overall. Inspired early in life by a need to live healthier and be an example, his inspiration for running goes hand in hand with his life value.
“Motivation usually does not last. Sometimes, I lack the motivation to do things, but I still push myself, proud is something I strive to do,” Holt said.
For Holt, breaking records wasn’t the goal, it was a reward for his consistency.
“I think it’s really just a display of the work I’ve put in,” Holt said. “In all honesty, it’s a lot of effort and time that has been contributed. I think the school record just shows that I’ve been pushing to be better.”
Although he is no longer running for the East Meck team, running as an unattached athlete, Holt credits his resilience as his biggest asset to becoming as successful as he has. Pushing through the hard days is how Holt became the successful athlete he is today.
Although there was a significant amount of highs for Holt, there are always lows with everything in life.
“My biggest challenge I’ve ever faced in all of my athletic career was definitely having to stop being on a team, because now it’s really difficult but I think just being farther away, especially having your own schedule definitely took a mental toll on me. But good thing is, I was able to look through it, and it ultimately worked out.” Holt said.
His perseverance has not gone unnoticed. Holt has been a huge role model for his teammates, both as a student and an athlete.
“Andrew Holt is one of the most hardworking and well-rounded students I’ve seen at East Mecklenburg High School,” senior T’Andre Palmer said. “On the track, he’s dedicated to improving every day, always pushing himself to new milestones.”
Holt plans to end his running career after college. He does believe the Olympics could be achievable, but he also knows that professional track does not offer financial stability. For him, moving forward means finding a career that provides him stability, but also balances his passion with his goals.
To future athletes, his advice is simple: “Trust yourself and your body. You are in charge of your body. Find a balance in how much you push yourself.” Holt said.
Holt’s story is not just about winning medals or breaking records. It is about growth, and commitment to bettering yourself. He is living proof that success does not come from dreaming, but from effort and hard work, especially when things get hard. Whether he is one the track or beyond it, Holt has built and carries a legacy at East, that won’t just be times he ran records, but also the strandards he set for what is possible when you believe in yourself and keep going, even when the finish line seems far way. If Holt can, you can too.
