MSSPP, by Kate

We had to wake up extra early on Saturday to make it at the designated time for the M.S.S.P.P. meet.  All four of us sisters were running this race.  This M.S.S.P.P. was for cross country.  M.S.S.P.P. is a Penang area-wide level of sports.  We met the school van at 5:15 in the morning that would take us to the local school that would host the M.S.S.P.P. meet.  I sat with Hannah Trescott, from another family, because my friend did not come.  We soon got to the school around 6:00 a.m. and we got our numbers and sighed up for the races.  A lot of people were there already.  The first group of the race set off - the older boys.  Then it was the next group - Hannah (my sister), Hannah T., Aimee, and me.  It was really hard because there were a lot of people and we were supposed to get near the front of the crowd before the race.  Most of us got near the front.  Soon the gun went off.  After a few minutes, Elizabeth’s group set off.  The route was hard.  Elizabeth only had to go 2.6 km but the rest of us had to do 7.1 km.  It was really hard.  One girl, later, fainted, when she tried to finish the race.  She had to be carried to the medical tent and there the medics got to work.  The race was hard but luckily it was during the morning so it was not very hot.  The race was hard because there were so many people packed together, we didn't know the exact route so I had to just follow people, and I had to walk sometimes because I have never run over 7 km before.  Soon all of us finished but only Elizabeth and a few others from the school got in the top 30.  If you got in the top 30 you would get a certificate and a medal.  If you got in the top 10 you would be able to go on a stage and there would be a ceremony and you would shake some hands.  So Elizabeth got the certificate and the medal but not the ceremony.  Next year she might get it.  The race was hard but all of us did well. 

A picture of almost all of the people who trained for cross country, posing in the cafeteria at the local school

After the race, another group photo

The people who got certificates and medals