News

Kayla Marie Gholar, a senior at Richmond Hill High School, captured the Georgia High School Association 2019 Cross-country State Championship this school year in Class 6A. Gholar is the defending GHSA Class 6A Track and Field State Champion in the 1600-meter event from last year. Gholar has been to the GHSA state cross-country and track and field championships every season until this spring. Kayla did not get the chance to defend her GHSA Track and Field 1600-meter champion title. Like all the other Class of 2020 spring athletes, she did not keep her state appearances intact or defend her 1600-meter gold medal because of the coronavirus halting high school sports.

Well, it all had to start somewhere. Gholar said, “I started running track in middle school after I ran a 5K with my mom and did the best in my age group. In high school I was playing soccer for the Savannah United and running cross-country and track and field for Richmond Hill High School. My sophomore year I quit soccer after playing ever since the age of 3 and committed to running.”

Kayla’s commitment to running and her sport has definitely paid off.  Gholar is the current 6A State Champion in the 1600 and the current 6A State Champion in cross-country. The Savannah Morning News Best of Preps selected Kayla as the 2020 Female Athlete of the Year. Gholar also has received the Savannah Morning News Cross-Country Runner of the Year for 2020 and 2019, and in 2018 the Track Runner of the Year by the Savannah Morning News. Behind every athlete there is always someone that has had a lot of influence on their career.

Gholar’s said, “Coach Levi Sybert has always pushed me to be better and made me realize my full potential.”  Kayla realizes she has been a successful athlete because as she stated, “I thrive on friendly competition between my teammates. I have learned to control the mental aspects of running. This has allowed me to break through to the next level and push myself harder so I can be the best I can be.”

Kayla signed a National Letter of Intent in November and will attend the University of Tennessee in the fall and will run cross-country and track.