A Smile Worth Running For
By Molly, age 13, California
My foot is on the backstopI put my hands down on the concrete
I look at my opponent
our eyes meet
we don't smile
we just look each other
up and down
judging
we look back to our own line
I take a deep breath
calming my nerves
I hear the gun shot
the race begins
I push off and run
full sprint
first hurtle
a graceful leap
the crowd is in the background
cheering
my opponent and I are neck and neck
each of us jumping over the hurdles
with a graceful leap
I see the finish line
I don't get excited
I stay calm and concentrate
I am in the now
we both sprint over the line
photo finish
the crowd cheers
a smile spreads across my face
as I slow down.