Persisting Anyway

17) Never Tried Harder

It was overclouded, a storm threatened. "I'm not supposed to take you outside when there is lightning visible." Coach Hersh repeated.

No way, lighting was not important right now. I couldn't care less about stupid lighting, we were going outside. "Coach Hersh, its okay, lets just go real fast." I had been pleading to go outside and jump to claim that number one spot. The other two girls were okay with not going outside, but they were also okay with their positions on the paper.

I could tell I was so close to getting Coach to get outside. I waited. Finally Coach sighed and he started walking out the door. The other two girls followed behind him, I was the last to leave but I performed a little happy dance as we made our way outside.

"Okay, we have to make this fast, like really fast." I took the measuring tape and laid it out on the concrete strip. Mary got the rake and Catherine was filling out the recording sheet. "Mary, you go first." Coach took the rake from Mary and she traveled to her "number" and then jumped. Catherine went and did the same thing. "Mary, twenty two-eleven." Mary nodded and started raking the pit. "Catherine, twenty three-eight." Then it was my turn.

The boy's voice from the meet taunted me.

Always second, always second, always second.

I began to doubt myself and my ability to perform as I walked towards my number on the tape measure. When I found it, I placed my foot on the concrete.

A flash of lighting crackled near us. I noticed Coach Hersh eyeing the spot where the lightning striked. I had to go fast because Coach was getting anxious.

I looked at the white line. This was my chance to prove myself and there was no way I wasn't going all out. I was going to be first, I pushed the two stupid words out of my head. I was not going to come second, I was going to prove that I was first. I was never going to come second again. I was going to place first in this little meet and I was going to place first at State.

And so I began running. I pumped my arms and gained momentum and sprinted with all my might. I watched the white line as it grew bigger and bigger before it was suddenly under me. I couldn't see it but I felt it. I felt the white line from underneath me and instincts took over. Instinctively I flung myself forward and as soon as my feet made contact with the sand I bent my knees and my arms stretched out infront of me.

I was done. This was it, and the decision was in the tape measure.

I held my breath as I watched Catherine and Coach Hersh measure the distance between the white line and the edge of my heel print.

"Twenty three-eleven."

That number had never been so sweet. I did it! I had placed first! I had earned my spot by three inches.

"Well, Sydney, you are going to State." I heard Coach Hersh say as the four of us ran inside.

I was going to State and I was going to place first.

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(As of 1/4/15) I'm thinking of starting a Twitter Account for my wattpad, let me know what you think please!!

We are coming to the end! These last few chapters are short so I will upload them all within a short amount of time, about one each day? Yay, I'm so excited!