Game On! Climbing the Hill

Game On! Climbing the Hill 1 Leaves crunched underfoot as Devin jogged down the long, grassy hill. The air was dry and cool. 2 Devin felt strong, but he was nervous, too. In just minutes he’d be sprinting up this hill. 3 Or trying to, he thought. 4 Devin observed his coach and teammates gathering in the starting area. The forest behind them was brilliant with dazzling autumn colors, but Devin hardly noticed. 5 The regional cross-country championship was at stake today, and twenty-eight teams would run in Devin’s race. 6 You can win this, Devin told himself. 7 A rainbow of bright uniforms and swinging arms burst from the starting line. Although Devin wanted to position himself in the lead pack, he knew that starting too fast could ruin his race. 8 You can win, he thought again, even though he hadn’t won a race all season. 9 Devin had nearly won twice, but that kid in the purple jersey from Kennedy Middle School had out-sprinted Devin two weeks earlier, and the twins from Mount Prospect, who were stronger up the hills, had passed him on the final climb a week before. 10 An encouraging cheer rose from the sidelines, and Devin spotted his friend Tara who had placed seventh in the girls’ race earlier. “Stay with ’em, Devin!” she shouted. 11 The course wound along a wooded path, then broke into the open above the lake. Devin lengthened his stride as they stormed down the hill, but a tall runner in a yellow jersey held the lead. 12 Devin was in fourth place, with the Kennedy runner and one of the twins just ahead. The other twin and a cluster of runners were so close behind that Devin could hear their steady breaths. 13 As they came off the downhill, he swayed and bumped shoulders with a runner in an orange Central jersey. 14 The midpoint of the race was just ahead, but no one had pulled away from the pack yet. 15 Devin leaned slightly forward up a short hill, pumping his arms and moving into third place, ahead of the Kennedy runner. That kid had followed Devin like a shadow two weeks back, bursting past him in the final 100 meters. 16 Devin liked running hills, even though it was difficult, and he had conquered many in workouts over the past two weeks. He was determined to build strength after those stinging losses. Coach kept saying that the key was to rally in those final steps before the finish line. He needed to have something left in the tank for the final sprint. 17 The Central runner stayed alongside Devin and then floated past him as they reached the end of the lake. 18 The runner in yellow was struggling now, and Devin and several others powered by him on the next hill. 19 All that remained was a short flat stretch, the grinding hill, and a final sprint. Devin drew even with the twin and then moved slightly ahead of him. 20 You can win this, Devin thought. 21 He glanced around as they began the final climb. The Central runner was a stride ahead, the Kennedy runner was a step behind, and both twins were gaining. 22 Five racers had a chance to win, but three of them were better than Devin was at sprinting at the end. He needed to pull ahead, now! 23 “Pass him, Devin!” yelled Tara. 24 They were halfway up the hill, and Devin’s chest was pounding. 25 The Central runner was in full sprint, and Devin drove his arms and legs to stay with him. He sensed purple, waiting to pounce, and he wondered if the twins would sprint past again. 26 The leader weakened just before the crest of the hill, and Devin saw daylight ahead. The Kennedy kid drew closer, and the twins struggled to pull even, but no one quite reached Devin. Devin felt stronger than he’d ever been, and his final strides were a burst of speed as the crowd cheered. 27 Devin raised his arms in triumph after he ran safely across the finish line. The Central kid plowed into him as Devin slowed. 28 “Great kick,” puffed the Central runner.