George

Beep, beep, beep. The alarm went off at 4:37 am just like every other morning. George rolled out of bed, rubbed his sleepy eyes and put his jogging clothes on. He checked his email to get the days workout from his trainer. When he'd committed it to memory he started the mile and a half jog to the track by his house. After a grueling three hour workout including sprints, stairs, and hurdles, George dragged his aching body home at a light jog. George sat in an ice bath for fifteen minutes before standing up to wash the sticky sweat off of the rest of his body. He got dressed and made himself a protein shake before heading out for school.

When he got to school it seemed everyone around him was whispering. When he got to his locker he saw his friend Jahmon waiting on him. Jahmon ran the 100m and 200m dash and was the state title holder. George had no doubt that he'd be successful at defending his title this year.

“It's bad George,” Jahmon said.

“What's happened?” George responded quickly.

“You remember Marquel Cartwright right?”

“How could I not? He won states in Cali last year the kid is a beast- no one can beat him. Their only hope racing him is not to get embarrassed,” George said in clear adoration.

“He just transferred here,”

George didn't even want to show his face at practice that day.

It was the longest practice ever to George despite being let out thirty minutes early.

“Pretty cold in Marquel's shadow huh George?” One of his teammates jeered.

George considered giving up his training al together, but the thought of it made him sick. He decided to work even harder. He didn't care if Marquel had never been beaten, he would be the first to do it.