Personal Narrative: Haverford High School Race

On September 14th, Haverford High School hosted one of the most important races for the Upper Darby Cross Country team. In most races, the winning team is not rewarded with a prize. But this was a different race. The girls team were running, fighting for the possession of the sports bra. The tradition of the sports bra was established by the coaches of both teams, Upper Darby and Haverford, in late seventies inspired by the boys’ tradition with a bronze shoe. The trophy was an actual sports bra that had been plastered. Painted purple and red with gold in the middle, it hung from wooden posts attached to a wooden base. The colors represented the school colors of each team with gold as the hue we share. Despite its vulgar impressions, it is the

Getting off the bus, I was ecstatic. It was my chance to help my team in achieving our biggest goal. For fall, the day was particularly hot and humid. I enjoy running in cool, chilly type weather, so the heat was a conflicting factor in my race. But I refused to let the heat bring me down. The team performed our usual routine; fifteen minute warm-up, body exercises and cheered on the boys running before our race. Everything was in place, I thought. We lined up on the line, exchanged phrases of luck and prepared for the gun. The gun went off and our feet flew down the field. Upper Darby would succeed in our goal, I felt

The painful feeling of defeat. I could see the pure anguish in the eye of my teammates. I knew that we had lost. I knew it before the officials announced the results. During the ceremony, I felt numb and disappointed. When you fail to accomplish the goal that was a deep desire of yours, all you can do is sit there, thinking what could have possibly happened. I should have stretched more. I should have pushed harder. I should hydrated myself more. But in the end, I had to swallow my pride and accept the lost. Both teams engaged in a dance party as part of tradition. We danced away the feeling of defeat and congratulated the winners. Even though Haverford are our rivals, they were our friends as well. Upper Darby will win back the sports bra. That is a