Lorin Alderman, now a second grade student at Marlow Elementary, was recently recognized in Atlanta as the state’s first place winner for first grade in last spring’s Young Author Contest.

Alderman, her parents Mark and Cheri Alderman and her sister Eleana traveled to Atlanta for the Young Author awards ceremony where they had the opportunity to meet state school Superintendent Kathy Cox.

Below is her winning story.

The Race Horse
by Lorin Alderman
1st Grade, Marlow Elementary
State-wide Grade Level Winner
 
I am a black mare racehorse. My name is Courtney. I went from my farm in Georgia to New York City to be in a special race. I rode in a nice trailer behind my owner’s truck.

When I got to my stable at the racetrack, I had to get dressed for the race. A stable boy named Zack got me dressed in my pink colors. Then he put the number seven on me and took me out to my rider.

My jockey’s name was Ashley. She petted me then hurried to get on me. I was ready just in time for the race. We went to the starting gate and the doors opened.

I went running out of the gate like a speedy rocket. This was going to be a twenty-lap race. I ran and ran as hard as I could. Then I only had seven more laps to go. I ran the last seven laps in one minute and seventeen seconds.
I WON!

Ashley cheered and cheered. She said she had never ridden a horse so fast. A few minutes later, we got our trophy.
I am old now and live on a farm with Ashley. I wonder if she thinks about our first race together as often as I do.