My least favorite part was participating in sport meets, for I loved running by myself. When faced with running against fellow athletes, I was 1. I had butterflies in my stomach and the sudden urge to go to the nearest 2. This year, however, I was encouraged to join in a long distance running competition by my coach.
The 800-meter event was approaching, meaning that I would 3 soon. I breathed deeply and tried to 4 my worries. I walked over to some of the 5 who would run with me and started to 6 with them. We were all loosening up and getting ready to run as 7 as possible.
I stepped up to the line for the event. The starter raised his cap gun and 8. About twenty-five runners took off. With these runners around me, I 9 my coach's words, "You may be small, but you have 10 power. " So, I kept up with athletes twice my size. I picked up the runner in seventh place and based my steps on him, making it a little bit faster. One by one, I 11 to make it to the top four, bursting around the lap.
It was the last lap before the final straightaway. I supposed I had the possibility to win. So I widened my steps, speeding up my12. I caught up with the runner in first place and we ran side-by-side down the last 100 meters — I 13 him by a hair at the finishing line.
My coach gave me a 14 hug as I headed back to see him. He was 15 because I had shortened my original time by twelve seconds at least.
