State Part I

An onlooker might have thought we were models strutting down a gravel runway, so confident was our gait down the trail. But then again, models didn't wear baggy sweats or headbands, top brand running shoes or concentrated scowls. We looked the part of runners, and we felt the part of competitors.

Lynnea was still smiling, but I knew in about an hour when we directed our anticipating legs towards the start box, the smile would be ancient history and anybody in the path of her stony eyes would be scared. Jordan was already halfway there. Jordan always looked concentrated. Aubrey was already not speaking. But then again, she thought she was going to win the state meet, of course. We were all supposed to win state.

Nuclei of varsity teams shuffled around the course, marking sharp turns and good passing points in their minds. Watch for that uphill climb. Conserve there. Wait for the downhill. Look for the Spartans. The tall skinny Lynnea girl. And the blond one. And the little runt of a sophomore--she's been doing well this year.

I was never on the radars of the other teams, but my teammates were and that put me right there with the best of them. We walked the course like we did every meet, stalking through chalk arrows and pulling grass off the side of the trail. After what seemed like a whole marathon of time, we left our tent in silence, the hopeful stares of our dedicated fans urging us to the starting line. The Spartans were at state. How would they leave it?