Chapter 128: Rivals on the Track

This is a national competition, with athletes from various provinces taking the stage in the women’s 100m hurdles today.

As the host city, Shanghai has clearly directed all its promotional efforts toward that pair known as the ‘Shanghai Twin Stars’.

Local media naturally focus more on promoting home athletes, which is perfectly understandable.

Besides, Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia have dominated the short-track events for three or four years, making them the clear favorites for gold and silver.

In fact, among the nine athletes on the track today, except for Xie Bingran, the others have all been defeated by this ‘Shanghai Twin Stars’ duo in past competitions, big and small.

At that moment, the big screen above the stands was playing a promotional video and pre-race interviews from Five Star Sports Channel, all centered on the ‘Shanghai Twin Stars’.

The audience looked up and erupted in cheers and applause once again.

“I’m Bai Miao. The word ‘give up’ isn’t in my dictionary!”

“On the track, I thrive against stronger opponents!”

“I’m Dong Jiajia. If you’re also on the 100m hurdles track…”

“Then sharing an era with me is your misfortune.”

In the promotional video, their bold and confident pre-race statements echoed across the field.

This instantly fired up the crowd, with cheers erupting everywhere and banners waving high in support.

Xu Chen heard those over-the-top pre-race boasts and couldn’t help but smile awkwardly.

Meanwhile, the groups of students from Tonghai University and Huahai Normal University beside him were thrilled, their shouts of encouragement even more intense than the trackside atmosphere.

The sky was clear, without the harsh glare of the sun.

A few large, fluffy white clouds hid the big sun behind them, delivering a comfortably mild day.

A light breeze stirred the field, but Xu Chen couldn’t tell if it was a tailwind or headwind for the athletes.

A sharp, urgent whistle pierced the track, cutting through the noisy chatter.

At the same time, the athletes warming up turned and headed toward the starting line.

Judges were already in position at the starting line, midway points, and the finish line.

Media cameras and photographers were set up, some aimed at the nine athletes on the starting line while others waited at the finish.

“National Youth Athletics Championships, women’s 100m hurdles final…”

“All athletes and coaches, prepare…”

In this sudden moment, the race was about to officially begin.

The entire audience fell silent in an instant.

The nine athletes had taken their positions on the track.

The ‘Shanghai Twin Stars’ stood in the middle lanes, fourth and fifth.

Xie Bingran, making her national debut, was assigned to the outermost ninth lane.

She wore an ice-blue tank top and black shorts, her expression cold as she stood on the edge of the track.

Bing Ge stood with hands on hips, casual and relaxed.

She slightly bowed her head, staring at the dark red track beneath her feet, her short bangs hiding her sharp, brooding features.

Xu Chen couldn’t help but recall the first time he brought Bing Ge onto the First High School athletic field; she had also stood on the outermost lane back then.

A cameraman with a shoulder-mounted camera moved to the starting line, and the big screen immediately switched to the live feed.

“National Youth Athletics Championships, women’s 100m hurdles final…”

“First lane, from Sichuan Province, Huang Ru!”

“Second lane, from Hunan Province, Zhao Xue!”

As the host announced each athlete, their image appeared on the big screen.

They waved to the audience, drawing waves of applause from the stands.

Though most of the crowd was there for Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia, they still showed proper respect and enthusiasm for athletes from other regions.

“Fourth lane, from Shanghai, Bai Miao!”

When Bai Miao’s confident smile flashed on the big screen, it triggered another round of cheers and applause.

The Tonghai University group next to Xu Chen raised their banners high, chanting encouragement again.

Surprisingly, the host from Five Star Sports Channel added an extra introduction.

“Bai Miao from Shanghai’s Tonghai University, 19 years old… her personal best is 13.72 seconds!

Champion of the National High School Games, silver medalist in the National University Games, champion of the National High School Athletics Championships…”

Thunderous applause filled the air as the close-up on the big screen showed Bai Miao greeting the audience in all directions.

“Fifth lane, from Shanghai, Dong Jiajia!”

Perhaps buoyed by Bai Miao’s earlier hype, Dong Jiajia’s fans applauded even more energetically.

Xu Chen, a couple of rows away, reached up to cover his left ear against the noise.

“Dong Jiajia from Shanghai’s Huahai Normal University, personal best of 13.71 seconds!

Champion of the National High School Games, champion of the National University Games, silver medalist in the National High School Athletics Championships…”

The uproar grew as Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia’s supporters ramped up the tension, competing in sheer volume.

“Sixth lane, from Guangdong Province, Fan Jiaxin!”

“Seventh lane, from Beijing, Li Xia!”

“Eighth lane, from Fujian Province, Lin Yawen!”

“Ninth lane, from Shandong Province, Xie Bingran!”

With scattered applause, Bing Ge’s face finally appeared on the big screen.

She lifted her head slightly toward the camera and raised her right hand in a brief gesture.

Her expression was cool and unyielding, without a hint of a smile to please anyone.

Xu Chen looked up at Xie Bingran on the screen and thought that after her training period, her body had become even more toned and powerful, while her facial features seemed sharper and more attractive.

From the group of students behind him, a few murmurs arose:

“That short-haired girl in ninth lane is pretty striking!”

“You don’t see girls with that vibe very often…”

But a nearby senior instantly snapped, “What are you looking at? We’re here to cheer for Bai Miao!”

Xu Chen stayed quiet but chuckled to himself.

However, Xie Bingran’s close-up lingered on the screen for just a few seconds.

The camera quickly shifted to a wider angle, overlooking the entire track with its neat rows of white hurdles and the nine athletes at the starting line.

The announcer’s voice from Five Star Sports boomed through the speakers again.

He was the on-site host, and the broadcast was live on Five Star Sports Channel.

“The National Youth Athletics Championships record for women’s 100m hurdles is 13.51 seconds.

‘Shanghai Twin Stars’ Bai Miao and Dong Jiajia have both come close to this record in their careers.

And today, will they both break it?

The battle for the championship is about to begin!

Catch all the excitement on Five Star Sports!”