CHAPTER 9

THE FINAL STRETCH

Tanisha and Derek continued down the trail, getting closer and closer to the third-place team. They were both still holding out hope that they would qualify for the finals on Rugged Reaper.

“This half-mile seems like forever!” said Tanisha.

The first- and second-place teams were so far ahead that Derek and Tanisha couldn’t see them. But as they approached the dip in the trail, the third-place team tripped!

“We can pass them!” said Derek.

The third-place team quickly got up off the ground. But Tanisha and Derek were right beside them!

There were cameras everywhere. Tanisha could see a ton of them at the finish line up ahead.

“Look! There’s the finish line!” Tanisha shouted as they ran side-by-side. “We can do this!”

The final sprint felt like a lifetime. All four kids ran as fast as they could toward the finish! Tanisha’s heart was racing as she breathed heavily. Beside her, Derek was panting for air.

“We’re almost there!” said Tanisha.

With a sudden flash, they crossed the finish line! They’d done it! They’d completed the Rugged Reaper!

“Did we do it? Did we get third place?” Tanisha asked.

“I don’t know,” said Derek, gasping for breath. “It was so close. We were right beside them as we crossed the line.”

The four kids stood over on the sidelines, waiting to hear who would take third place.

“You two are really good,” said one of the kids on the other team. “How many of these obstacle courses have you tried?”

“This is our first,” replied Tanisha.

“Really?” the other kid said. “Sure doesn’t seem like it!”

Just then, the announcer’s voice came over the loudspeaker. “That was a photo finish for third place, folks! Who’s ready to hear who made it to the finals?”

The crowd cheered, and Derek grabbed Tanisha’s hand.

“Good luck,” Tanisha said, crossing her fingers.

“All four of our contestants did great,” the announcer continued, “but today, Tony and Billie crossed the line first. They advance to the finals!”

Next to Derek and Tanisha, the other team cheered. Disappointed, Tanisha and Derek shook their hands.

“Congrats,” Derek said.

“Thanks!” the other kids said. “Hope to see you at another event!” They walked away to collect their third-place medals.

Tanisha was upset. “I’m sorry, Derek. My fear of heights at the mother wall put us behind. That’s why we lost.”

“That’s not true,” Derek said. “I fell on the balance beam. We both made mistakes. But together we beat our fears and did something a lot of first-timers could never do! We came this close to going to the finals! How awesome is that?”

“You’re right!” Tanisha said, smiling. “We should be proud of ourselves!”

Derek gave Tanisha a hug. “You’re a great teammate and friend, T,” he said.

“You too,” said Tanisha.

A moment later, Derek and Tanisha’s friends and families came over. Everyone was eager to congratulate them.

“I can’t believe how well you two did!” said Terrell.

“Not bad for a girl, huh?” Tanisha joked. She looked to Janet. “Is it OK if I come by on Monday to train?”

“Me too!” said Derek. “We’re a team!”

“But the event is over,” Janet said. “You completed the course.”

“We want to be ready for next year!” said Tanisha.

“Yeah!” cheered Derek, fist-bumping Tanisha. “Let’s do it!”