He stared down the track, muscles tensed. 800 meters. Man, relays had become harder since they started the 4×800 back in 2148. Then again, the competition was more intense.

He glanced to his left and right. Four competitors, him, the only human. That was okay. Humanity had become tougher, too. The average human lived 116 years. They were smaller, averaging only 5’3” in height, but muscle density had increased, as well. Human nervous systems had improved, too.

The plague of 2083 had some good effects, even if it did bring Earth’s population to a mere 2.1 billion.

He brought his mind back to the race. He flexed and relaxed his muscles, waiting for the starting gun. To his left, two aliens. One from Alpha Centauri, one from Canopus. To his right, a cyborg from the European Technocracy. No problem. He had his strategy already.

The starter gun went off. As his legs propelled him from the blocks, he spun, catching the ‘borg under the chin with his baton.

Relays were also more fun since they went full contact.