Hawera Cross Country

"9 year old girls come down to the start line," I heard on the speaker phone. I had butterflies in my stomach. On your marks, get set, go! We all raced off down the track like a swarm of bees, I was coming about fourteenth equal with a Turuturu girl. We raced out the gate and we were on our way to the 1.7km race. My heart was beating as fast as a cheater. We had to go up and down tiny hills but they really wore me out. My throat was as dry as a desert and I was begging for a cold drink of water. I had tones of sweat dripping of my head, it was disgusting. My face was going as red as a beetroot. There was gasping sounds coming out of my mouth. I was starting to go as slow as a snail, I was telling myself no don't stop. It was time to finish the race going around the gray hound track. Everybody from Hawera Primary starting cheering for me. My legs were feeling like jelly and I could see people going over the finish line, I was almost there. I could see Phoebe McLeod in front of me. I was trying so hard to catch up to her. Finally I was over the finish line, "19th place that's pretty good" I thought to myself. I ran on to the grand stand to get a big long drink of water. I'm so glad that's over!

By Briar Stockman and Kaitlyn Mehrtens