And so, that's it. My
final Sports Day. (Just writing that sentence brings tears to my eyes). No more running for Assunta House and screaming my lungs out for the marchers, cheerleaders and runners. No more shouting myself hoarse at runners whom I KNOW can do so much better. And this is the worst-There may be no more hurdles for me. MSSD, MSSS and Sports Day are over and done with. Didn't make the grade for MSSM, which is at the end of this month. Even if we go for any of the other schools' Sports Days, which they've invited us for, it'll only be for 4x100m. We've been for MSSS relays before, which are nearer the end of the year, but it's still JUST RELAYS. My hurdles, my pet event for the past 7 years, I'll probably never do again. Maybe I'll go for some Opens or something
(Truly hope I can), then I'll be reunited with those striped pieces of wood.
Anyway. Assunta House went to Sports Day today hoping to defeat Francis House, who have long been in the top half of Sports Day. Hermine's been leading almost all the way. We were only 22 points behind Francis, if we did well today, we'd rank second overall. Thus it was in high spirits that our deco team went to work, our marchers marched, our runners flew and our cheerleaders performed. As usual, the day began with Negaraku and prayers, then the marching parade began. As this year's theme was Flora, all the house mascots were dressed as flowers. Assunta's JT from Form 2 was a hibiscus, SO of Hermine was a sunflower, and I couldn't quite catch what Clare's FL and Francis's NY were. The ones holding the "sepanduk" were in traditional garb, mainly cheongsams and sarees. As the procession went round the field, Sports Captain AA had to stop and wait a while as she'd been going too fast so not everyone had started when she reached the end of the field again. Then she started again, not realising Assunta Alumni had yet to start moving. But it went well.
Then the running events started!! The hurdles were brought out and set up, only six to a lane instead of the normal ten, as many of the hurdles are spoilt from being thrown every-which-way into the store room. We weren't allowed to wear spike shoes for ANY of the events, even individual events like the 100m and 100m hurdles, which don't cross into other people's lanes (I thought this was incredibly stupid, sorry if I'm offending anyone but hello? We run SO MUCH BETTER IN SPIKE SHOES. The reasoning that we might "step on someone" or "borrow spike shoes from school and not wash/return them" just doesn't apply. We've NEVER been allowed to borrow from school for Sports Day anyway. And in the individual events, do you think we'd purposely cross into someone else's lane, disqualifying ourselves in the process, just to step on them? I think not). The start of the lanes was muddy as its been raining really heavily these past few days, so it was pretty slippery. I decided to dig holes in the ground to use as "starting blocks" (which is why my nails are disgusting right now). It helped a little. My event went well, I grabbed the gold. Right after that was the 400m. I thought this would be the event to make or break my chances of being Best Athlete (It was a 3 way race for Best Athlete-IR already had two golds, L had 2 golds and I was trying to get 3 individual golds today) as IR and I were both in this event and both trying to get Best Athlete. I really gave my all in today's 400m. And-GOLD!!!!! I was exhausted, but proud of myself. People kept coming up to me to offer congratulations but I had to keep brushing them off as I couldn't talk properly or anything. I knew I should walk around and try to get my breath back for the next event, but it was SO difficult to even get up. I was alternately sitting and lying down. Band gave a short performance, giving me some time to catch my breath. Then, just as we were about to walk over to the tent to await the start of the 100m, I threw up. I just retched. (Don't read the next few lines if you're squeamish). I'd had marmalade and toast for breakfast, so it was all orange. Could see bits of my toast and marmalade coming out as well. It was mainly liquids, but it felt so good to have it all come out. At that moment in time, I really didn't want to run the 4x100m, I just wanted to go for my 100m, do it to the best of my ability (Yeah, I'm selfish. I still wanted the Best Athlete award but wasn't too fussed about the team event) and be done with it. So, I made my way over to the 100m start, still feeling a bit woozy but much better than before my throw-up. This was another make-or-break event. If L were first, the award was hers. If I got it, then it'd be mine. If either of us got second and someone else (not one of us) was first, then Best Athlete would be between the second-placed girl and IR. Once the P2 had started, we tried out our lanes. I had the same lane as earlier (3rd lane, my favourite. I got this lane for 100m hurdles, 400m and 100m. 5th lane for 4x100m) but I still had to re-dig my "starting blocks". I got off to a poor start. L and ED started really well. They were head to head and it was difficult to tell who had won at the end. I couldn't catch up with them, landing in 3rd place, totally dashing my hopes of being Best Athlete.
The next event was cheerleading. Juniors went first, followed by the Seniors. I didn't go watch as I was still trying to get over my tiredness. Miss T gave me a whole cupful of salt water to "regain energy". It was so salty!! Tasted like she'd mixed a whole bag of salt in the water. Judging by the cheers of the crowd and what friends said, I thought we'd done pretty well. The final event of the day, the decider of the P1 Best Athlete was the 4x100m. By this time, I'd recovered, so I went ahead with being 4th runner for Assunta. My team consisted of Jay, JY, JL and myself (Yeah, I ran with all the Js). Jay got off to a good start. We were in the outermost lane, so it was difficult to tell if she was actually in the lead or in front because of the curve. JY got the baton, then fell behind to 4th place. JL did an awesome job of getting us back to third, but by then it was too late. I ran against IR, L and T (3 of us school runners) and came in 3rd. Disappointing, but not as disappointing as if this had been the tie-breaker for Best Athlete for myself. Its my own fault for losing the 100m race.
Then it was prize-giving. For 100m P1, ED got the gold!! And then it was clear who had won Best Athlete, the tie-breaker being 4x100m. Didn't even have to wait for official announcement and I knew. For marching, Clare took home the trophy. Hermine took the trophy for Merentas Desa (I think). Best House Decoration went to Francis. Best Mascot went to Hermine. All my Assunta life I've been under the impression that if you're first for Junior/Senior cheerleading, you can't be first in the other category. So when they announced the Juniors results, JY and I were going "gold gold gold gold". Clare was second and ASSUNTA WAS FIRST!!!! Then we waited impatiently for the Seniors results. Second......CLARE!!! We were going shoot, that means we didn't get it. But then! "Johan Cheerleading Senior tahun 2008 - ASSUNTA!!!" Everyone started cheering like crazy. 'Twas a grand day. Then the best athletes were announced. P3 - Can't remember. Heh. P2 - Thchn from Assunta!!! P1 - IR from Hermine!!! She'd got it based on the results of the 4x100m, in which her team was first. L's team was second.
Then, what we were waiting for - overall results. Clare - fourth. A tense moment as we waited for 3rd placing. We didn't beat Francis :( Francis second, and what was obvious from the start - Hermine first. AA went up to get the trophy and she was so overcome, she started crying. Made ME want to cry.
All's well that ends well. We finished the day with the singing of the school song. A bit of cleaning up, then snacks in the canteen.
I can't say that I'm not disappointed in myself. I am - I was aiming for Best Athlete so much. Its my last year and I really wanted to go out with a big bang. But I am proud of myself - for putting the effort in, for getting the gold for hurdles, and especially for beating IR in the 400m. That medal really means a lot now.
I'll post up photos and videos once I've uploaded them. Tata :D
MdeBCMM
