![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
One of the great things about track and field is even if you don’t come in first place, you can still reach a personal goal at any competition by beating your best time.
Track athletes call it a personal record, or “PR” for short.
Win or lose, every athlete hopes to PR every time they approach the starting line.
Tyrone sophomore Nate Erickson knows all about PRs.
Nate’s achievement in track PRs is inspiring and says a lot about the value of hard work and goal-setting. That’s why we nicknamed him PR, because that’s all he ever did, every time he ran, for over a year
— Tyrone Assistant Track Coach Steve Everhart
In fact, he’s done it so many times that it’s become his nickname.
“PR” Erickson isn’t the fastest runner on the team, but he has become almost legendary for his ability to consistently improve meet after meet.
Since he started running track last season as a freshman, Erickson set a personal record in at least one event in every track meet he competed in for over a year.
His events are the mile, two-mile, and sometimes the 800.
“I think it’s pretty cool, I don’t think many people have a streak that long,” Erickson said.
Erickson says he enjoys being on the track team because he gets to hang out with his friends and loves to see improvement in his times at the meets.
When asked if he’s nervous about keeping his streak alive, Erikson said “I’m always a little nervous when I start, but I know I’ll do good.”
Last year he started with an 8-minute mile time. Since then he has dropped his best time by an amazing two and a half minutes.
Erickson’s commitment and consistent improvement have impressed long-time Tyrone assistant track coach Steve Everhart.
“Nate’s achievement in track PRs is inspiring and says a lot about the value of hard work and goal-setting. That’s why we nicknamed him PR, because that’s all he ever did, every time he ran, for over a year,” Everhart said.
According to Everhart, when Erickson first joined the team he could barely finish a mile, clocking in at just under 10 minutes, which is a walking pace for some people.
Fast forward to this season and his mile PR is currently at 5.39 and his two-mile PR is 12.20.
“It is extraordinary, to say the least, to never see a regression,” Everhart said.
Nate will be one of my most memorable athletes as a coach just from his sheer persistence. Long-term success is not just about enjoying your accomplishments but persisting through the low points.
— Steve Everhart
At the pace of improvement he has set, Erickson should shatter the current world record mile time of 3:43 with a 2:49.5 mark by the end of this September.
Of course, everyone, including Erickson, knows that isn’t going to happen.
“Nate is smart enough to know that his PRs will come irregularly moving forward,” Everhart said. “He’s already seeing plateaus and regressions over the last week or two. And this is natural, even with his persistent training and commitment. Nate has totally reshaped his body and increased his athleticism and flexibility. His form is nonrecognizable from last season.”
Erickson’s long-term goals are to run the mile under 5.30 and get under 12 minutes in the 2-mile.
Erickson said he loves track and would like to continue running competitively after high school.
He hopes to find a college that will give him a shot to keep PRing.
“Nate will be one of my most memorable athletes as a coach just from his sheer persistence. Long-term success is not just about enjoying your accomplishments but persisting through the low points. By the time Nate graduates, who know how low he can go? But I know he will always give a hundred percent. He knows no other way. And I love that about him,” Everhart said.
As for the streak, Erickson said “I’m not sure how long it will last, but I’ll just keep going and see what I can do.”
This story was originally published on Tyrone Eagle Eye News on April 18, 2024.
