Months had passed since the regional was held, and Cassian was now staring at an even tougher test: the national meet. The winter break had passed, and where most students were out on holiday, Cassian and his teammates spent theirs training rigorously.
Coach had warned them from the very start that nationals would be much different than anything they had ever faced. At nationals, every school would be bringing in champions: the best sprinters from each state in the country. Preparations were tough; they fine-tuned the speed and endurance in each athlete, as well as mental toughness. Cassian was working to improve explosive speed, quickness of reaction, and form.
In the mornings, running began early. Cassian started with light stretching and calisthenics to warm up the fast-twitch muscles before heading to the track. Coach had evolved specific workouts for each member of the team: workouts to push their physical limits while fine-tuning technical skills.
He spent hours perfecting his form, wherein his drive phase would just go straight into the maximum velocity without pause, conserving energy by ensuring every stride propels him ahead with maximum efficiency.
At home, Cassian practiced on his reaction ball. Habitually and repetitively practice, honing in reaction time, is what he did. His reflexes became sharper with his consistent performance in the drills, giving him an advantage over many of the competitors. He balanced schoolwork with training and even found time to care for his garden. The quiet and peace gave him solace.
But despite all his grueling, exhausting training, Cassian always managed to find time for family. They would sit down and share dinner together, their conversations being a welcome respite from the intensity of his routine. His parents were always the biggest supporters, always there to encourage him every step along the way.
One evening, as they sat around the dinner table, his father eyed him proudly. "So, Cass, you ready for nationals?"
Cassian smiled, nodded, and said, "This will be difficult, but I can do it."
His mom came over to the table and squeezed his hand across the table. "No matter what happens, we are proud of you.".
They went on throughout the evening, making conversation and laughing about the impending race, but Cassian's mind had a tendency to always return to the track. His parents' words of encouragement steadied him, but he knew it all was on his shoulders and the race once he stepped out there.
The week of the national competition finally arrived, and Cassian stood on the edge of the track, surveying the massive stadium. Electric feeling in the air with teams preparing for their events from all over the country. To his right sat his teammates—Jackson, Ethan, and Ryan—steady as they came.
Cassian looked up to see his parents in the stands. His mom gave him a wave; his dad gave him a thumbs up, the view of them warming him up. The competition could be as tight and hard, but all that was worth it knowing his family was there.
"You got this, Cass," his dad said as they made way from the gates of school that morning. "You've worked long and hard enough. Now go out there and show the world what you're made of.".
Cassian was the first off for the 100-meter sprint, and the stadium roared as the athletes got lined up at the starting blocks. He cast his eye to his competitors, each of whom was a powerhouse in his own right, with the fastest times coming from their different regions.
Since he exploded off the blocks from the firing of the gun, the reaction time of Cassian was perfect. The immediate 5 milliseconds tapped him into fast-twitch muscle to burst ahead of the pack. Every stride of his was powerful, just making it precise—the next step blasting him ahead for an explosive speed to the finish line.
All the way around the track, Cassian sprinted for the finish line and left everyone else behind him. His time appeared on the scoreboard: 11 flat—his personal best. Coaches and crowd members alike were shocked by the performance and the dominance of the field that he displayed.
Jackson then ran the 200-meter sprint. After a very good start, the competition seemed fierce, and Jackson really struggled to keep in position. Right at the end, with all he could give, he grabbed 3rd place. He looked disappointed but knew he gave it his best shot.
Next was the turn of Ethan to take the 300 meters. His endurance was sound, but the race was unforgiving. The pace of the front runners proved too much for him as Ethan crossed the finish in 4th position. Still frustrated, he nodded to his teammates, understanding they were still very much in the battle.
Finally, Ryan competed in the 400-meter race. A known sprinter with the finishing power, Ryan stayed close to the pack during the race. Approaching the final straight, he gave it his last hurrah, passing several of his teammates and other competitors for the 2nd place finish.
Now it is time for the final event, the relay race.