During the evening a Blackhawk middle school cross country meet was taking place. A young teenage girl running in her first meet excited and scared all at the same time. Waiting for the opposite team to get there, stretching trying to make the time pass faster. Practice sprints when the school Jefferson walks in with bright orange shirts some with pants some with shorts. Hearing them talk to themselves saying “They stink we are so going to win.” The young teenage girl DeLaney thinking to herself “What are they talking about we have so many more people than they do and faster people to”. Annoyed she keeps running knowing she’s going to do great. When waiting for the third school to get to the meet we wait while Jefferson practices on the track.
Then Tolls the other middle school gets here we have to give them a minute to get stretched. So we waited until like 3:10 to start the race. It was about fifteen minutes until the race started. Mrs.Godfrey one of Blackhawk’s couches said “All the girls in all three schools come to the starting line.” DeLaney’s heart was beating fast. Blackhawk’s girls lined up on the far left of the sidewalk. Jefferson’s girls lined up in the middle of the sidewalk and Toll’s girls lined up on the far right. Mrs. Godfrey said “When I blows my whistle that is when you girls can start running. If someone falls within five feet from the starting line I will blow my whistle as many times as I can, and everyone will have to stop running. Are all of you girls ready.” “Yes!” everyone said. “Ok! On your mark, get ready, set……… GO!” Mrs.Godfrey yelled.
And all the runners took off. DeLaney ran at a pace that she could stay in the whole entire race. “This is harder than it looks” DeLaney thought while running. “When people say Oh I can do that um… no u can’t.” She’s about three fourths done of the first lap. She runs around the corner now on the little loop while she hears the crowd cheering for Blackhawk. One more lap of the big loop and little loop than the track. As she runs passing two people that go to Tolls. DeLaney is on her last lap of the big loop she’s out of breath, tired, her legs and feet hurt. “You got this you got this.” DeLaney says to herself.
She turns the corner that goes to the little loop she sees her sister, Savannah, a head up by a tree, DeLaney speeds up to get side by side with Savannah. Savannah says “I feel bad for Maddie she might have an asthma attack.” “I know.” DeLaney said. As Savannah starts walking DeLaney says I’m going to keep running.” “ok.” Savannah says. As DeLaney is running past Mr. Millage he says “Pass those two Jefferson girls.” She nods her head like she’s saying ok. She speeds up at a normal run, when she gets on the track. As she gets closer to the finish line DeLaney speeds up to a sprint.
And passes the two Jefferson girls. As she passes the finish line a man gives her a popsicle stick with what place she got. “Come on 48 place I am so bad at cross country.” And as she walks by a girl she gives DeLaney a red, white, and blue ribbon. But at the end DeLaney learned that trying new things is great.