Ayo

The day I realized I could succeed in anything I put my mine to was on March 30^th, I participated in a Track and Field Invitational at Trabuco Hills; I remember this day like it was yesterday, and on this day I was entered into the 400x meter run. I was in lane 5 and just before my heat was called to the line I started to get hot, and it was not because it was blazing outside. My hands and legs were soft and slippery. I started to get butterflies. As the other competitors began to talk amongst themselves they started to discuss their times. As a sophomore, I was still running a 67 (seconds to complete a lap). I started hearing “67, 68, and 71”. I started to calm down. All I knew was I wanted to make this race count.

Before I knew it, it was time for me to get on the line. I set my blocks and told all the girls good luck; when really it was I that needed the luck. “Boom!”, the gun went off and I was on my way. I heard a voice say, “Lane 5, Ayomide Ademorijimi pushes to first place”. That was me. I started to think “Keep going Ayo, pocket the chin- a slogan Coach Bennie had repeated countless times- you’re at the 300m mark, now go! Don’t give up. I listened to the voice inside me and as I came back to reality, I began to hear footsteps behind me. I was not going to let this girl past me. I did not come all this way and push this hard to lose, so I persevered. I heard her footsteps approach and I pushed myself even harder, even though I was physically ready to give up. We were on the last 100m and I was still in first place,” Ayo you’re almost there”, I repeated to myself. I heard the crowd cheering. I heard my coach cheering. I crossed the finish line at 1:04:83. I had PR’d! - I had beaten my personal record. Although I was ready to collapse to the floor, I silently cheered in my head and exited the field.

My coach came to me and asked me how I felt, I said “Exhausted”. He laughed and said “You did great Ayo; I saw you pushed through the pain”.  I said thank you and took a deep breath. The girl that came in second told me after the race that my perseverance to finish and stay in first place pushed her to stay with me, she finished strong as well. It turns out she also beat her personal record that day. I never felt happier, and from this moment on I knew that I could accomplish anything I wanted to if I put my mind to it. It took a long time before I realized this, but I’m content with the knowledge I gained.