Chasing the Baton

Chasing the Baton — page 5 — I straightened up and looked around I could barely see the bleachers but I knew my dad was up there I coughed up a wad of spit Where’s our stuff Torry pointed to a pile of orange-and-blue sweats on the infield I fumbled in a pocket for my glasses and suddenly I could see It must be hard to race when you can’t see where you’re going Torry said I forced a smile I can see well enough to stay in my lane I don’t like sprinting with my glasses on For sports like basketball and soccer I wear protective goggles but running isn’t much of a problem I just wish nobody else had seen it I got trounced Coach Parrish tapped me on the shoulder Not bad for the first time Thorpe he said You went out way too fast but you’ll learn The 400 is all about pacing 6

Chasing the Baton — page 6 — I nodded Pace and pain Coach grinned I never said it was easy He turned and hurried to the finish line as the next race was beginning I flopped onto the grass and yanked off my spikes I don’t get it I said We’ve been training for three weeks And I was already in good shape before that I thought I’d finish near the leaders but I was a long way from being the best I was so far out I couldn’t even see the winners How did I wind up last You were right with em halfway through Torry said You’ll get stronger Wish I were a sprinter like you I said Torry had placed fourth in the 100-meter dash There’s barely enough time to get tired in a race that short I told him Boom It’s over before you know it Ha Torry replied It still hurts For about two seconds 7

Chasing the Baton — page 7 — Torry shrugged A little more than that But yeah it’s not like the 400 I don’t think there’s anything like the 400 I said Wish I could drop down to the sprints But Bethune is loaded with fast sprinters Coach had convinced me to move up to the longer event where speed and endurance are equally important Torry is 8

Chasing the Baton — page 8 — lightning fast so he fits in with the older sprinters But there are at least seven runners on the team who are faster than me at 100 or 200 meters And only the top three or four get to compete in the meets There’s room for me to contribute in the 400 but I’ll have to do better than I did today My dad held out his hand as I climbed toward him in the bleachers Good effort he said

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