Bang! The gun goes off signaling the start of yet another race. I jump a little out of my seat like I always do whenever I hear the bang of the gun. It’s Wednesday night and I’m at Harvard University at a track meet competing against Stoneham. It’s my freshman year and I’ve managed to get on my high school’s varsity hurdle team for winter track. Mariah and I are sitting on the bleachers watching our other hurdler teammates, Savannah and Victoria, finish their long jump event. The 200 meter race starts signaling my time to head down to the track to start warming up. The hurdle event is always later in the track meet so it gives me time to mentally prepare for the race. Mariah follows me as I grab my spiked track shoes and cross the track ring to the center. I give a little yelp as the gun goes off for another race scaring me yet again and Mariah laughs. Shoes on and ready to go we start our warm up routine with Savannah and Vicky joining us soon after. We jump a few practice hurdles along with girls from other towns that look older and intimidating. A judge from the table across the track calls all hurdlers over to get out number and my blood starts pumping. It’s almost time to race.

Getting your number is always nerve racking because it determines if you’ll be on the outside lane or one of the inside lanes. I personally love the outside lanes so I don’t feel so boxed in as opposed to all my other teammates who love inside lanes. As usual I get number one since I’m the newest hurdler and they always get one of the outside lanes. While the hurdles are being set up we get sorted into lines, races, and towns. There eight lanes to a track and four girls from each town so it works out perfectly. I’ve never liked the idea of competing against your own town but that’s how track works. I’ll be taking on Savannah, Mariah, Vicky, and the four other Stoneham girls. Wilmington is in the later race since they lined us up in alphabetical order and the Stoneham girls start making small talk with our hurdle team. I just watch and don’t say anything for fear of losing my nerve right there and walking out. I’m never more nervous than before a race and my vision is already blurring from the adrenaline and anticipation. It’s finally our race and we line up across the track in our correct lanes. I take my place in lane one and put my blocks in their right setting, then I turn and stare down the hurdles laid out in front of me like they’re my enemy. The Stoneham girl in the lane beside me asks me what year I’m in after she reveals she’s a sophomore. I tell her that I’m a freshman and she gives me a pitying look like I’ve already lost. I get into my crouch as the judge tells us to take our marks, and when he says set we lift our backs into a higher crouch. I barely register the gun before I’m shooting down the track and in another second I’m over the first hurdle. The world blurs and I only see the hurdles in front of me and soon I’m done. That’s the best start I’ve ever had I faintly realize as I finish the race. My heart leaps into my throat as I realize I’ve finished 5th beating three of the Stoneham girls and setting a personal record. Savannah came in first, as always, Vicky second, a Stoneham girl third, Mariah fourth, me fifth, and the rest of them placing after. I finished the race in eleven seconds and I felt like I won the lottery.