For Tim Starwalt, success comes from pushing boundaries—whether it's sprinting toward the finish line or stepping into the spotlight on stage. As a junior at Byron High School, he has embraced two very different passions: competitive running and performing arts. While some might see these as opposites, Tim sees them as two sides of the same challenge—the pursuit of growth, resilience, and pushing past failure to find success.

His love for running started early, around fifth or sixth grade, when he realized it would help him improve as a soccer player. By middle school, he transitioned fully to cross country and track, drawn to the way running rewards hard work and persistence.

“I love that it’s a sport where anyone can get better if they put in the effort,” Tim said. “It’s not about being naturally gifted—it’s about showing up, pushing yourself, and getting stronger every day.”

Tim’s journey in theater began around the same time, though for a completely different reason. His mother had been involved in theater when she was younger, and she encouraged him to try it out. Once he did, he was hooked.

Since then, he has performed in both musicals and plays, taking on lead roles in nearly every production he’s been part of.

One of his favorite roles so far was playing Pippin in last year’s production of Pippin, a show that resonated deeply with him.

“I loved the message behind it,” he said. “It’s a show about finding purpose, searching for meaning, and learning that sometimes, the simple things in life are the most important.”

His ability to command a stage, captivate an audience, and fully commit to his roles has made him a standout in Byron’s theater community.

At first glance, theater and running might seem worlds apart. But to Tim, they have more in common than people realize.

“In both, you have to be okay with failure,” he said. “In theater, they’ll ask you to do something ridiculous—play an animal, act in a way that feels unnatural, completely put yourself out there. And in running, you’re constantly pushing through pain, testing your limits, and sometimes falling short.”

The way he sees it, both require mental toughness, self-discipline, and a willingness to keep going even when things don’t go as planned.

“Every race, every performance—it’s all about learning, adjusting, and coming back stronger next time,” he said.

Tim’s dedication to running has only grown stronger since he first joined middle school cross country.

Even though his sixth-grade track season was canceled due to COVID, he never lost his passion for the sport. He has competed in every cross country and track season since, focusing primarily on distance running.

He describes running as both physically and mentally demanding, requiring endurance, pacing, and the ability to fight through fatigue.

“Distance running is 100% a mental game,” he said. “You have to stay focused, even when it hurts. Workouts are tough, races are exhausting—but the feeling of crossing the finish line makes it all worth it.”

Tim is also a competitor at heart. He holds the Byron Middle School mile record and is currently working toward breaking high school records in track.

Last season, he ran the mile in 4:28, but his ultimate goal is to get closer to 4:15.

“I’d love to break the 4:20 mark,” he said. “That would really put me on the radar for college recruiters.”

His track events include the mile (1600m), 800m, and occasionally the 400m, but there’s been talk of having him run the two-mile this year to showcase his endurance.

“We’re still deciding if we’ll do it seriously,” he said. “But I’m open to the challenge.”

With one more year of high school ahead, Tim is beginning to think about his future beyond Byron.

While he isn’t locked into a specific career path yet, he’s strongly considering business and finance. His experience in Byron’s Honors Entrepreneurship program has introduced him to the world of startups, product development, and pitching ideas.

His group’s business project? A shower stopper that allows users to set their perfect water temperature every time they turn on the shower.

“It’s not the most groundbreaking idea,” he admitted. “But the process of developing it, presenting it, and learning how to sell an idea has been incredible.”

Tim hopes to continue running at the collegiate level, which will heavily influence where he chooses to attend school.

“U of I is my dream school,” he said. “But whether I go there depends on where I get recruited for running. If a different school offers me a great opportunity, that’s something I’ll have to consider.”

Looking back at his time in Byron, Tim is grateful for the support he’s had from his teachers, coaches, and family.

He credits his cross country and track coaches, Mike McHale and Josh Helms, for pushing him to be the best runner he can be. He also appreciates the impact of his theater directors, teachers, and—perhaps most of all—his parents, who have encouraged him to pursue both his athletic and artistic passions.

“My parents ran in high school, my mom did theater, and my sister was a great student,” he said. “I think I’ve kind of taken a little from all of them.”

As he moves forward, Tim knows that no matter where life takes him, he’ll continue to challenge himself—whether that’s in sports, theater, or business.

“I just want to keep pushing my limits,” he said. “If you’re passionate about something, you should go all in and see where it takes you.”

For Tim Starwalt, the road ahead is wide open—and whether he’s running, performing, or creating something new, he’ll be ready to take center stage.