I'm Going To Win This!

• Penny Nicholls , Grade 4
• Short Story
• 2022

“Run your best Sophie!” I could hear my heart beating and the voice in my head. I was about to start the 400-metre running in the cross-country carnival. Mr. Kluge was counting down. “On your marks, get set, go!”
I ran my hardest. I was already sweating. My palms were sweaty. I looked ahead. There was no one in front of me. I was winning. There was a teacher from Hope standing at the end of the road, telling the cars to slow down. “Good job! Keep going!” she said to me, her bright, pink jacket shimmering.
I turned around the witches hat cone before coming back around the road, to the oval. My heart was beating faster. “I’m going to win this!” I screamed.
I could now see the finish line, but I saw a Hope kid running ahead of me. I sprinted as fast as I could to try and get in front of her. There was still 10 metres to go, so I had a chance. My legs were burning, but I still sprinted. I was getting closer and closer to her until I was right behind her. I took one big leap over the finish line and landed on my knees.
I had won!