There was a remarkable event at last year’s ACC Cross Country Championship at North Carolina State University, and it didn’t even involve the winner of the race. Madeline Adams was only moments from finishing the 6k race when she suddenly collapsed.
It appeared that she would not be able to complete her race, but two other runners, from different colleges, refused to let that happen. In an amazing show of sportsmanship in its purest form, two competitors practically carried Adams across the finish line. It was Evie Tate, from Clemson University, and Rachel Pease, from the University of Louisville, who came to the rescue.
Adams recounts the events of that day:
“I was running the race of my life. I was doing incredibly well. I was coming up that hill (to the finish line), I started to feel really fatigued,” she said.
“All of a sudden, I get this wave that comes over me and my legs just truly gave out from underneath me. I had no control. I really don’t remember falling, I remember being on the ground and being like, ‘why am I on the ground? Get up.’”
But she couldn’t get up and that’s when Tate and Pease stepped in. “The great part that comes out of this is there are two amazing girls that helped me, who are completely selfless and just amazing people with amazing character.”
Adams also tells interviewers that at first she was embarrassed by the video and hoped that people wouldn’t be able to tell it was her. She did fail, after all. But, after the video went viral, she managed to put that feeling of shame aside. No one was focused on her failure. Instead, we are all impressed by the young women who put competition aside to help a fellow athlete.
Watch this amazing story in the video below, and don’t forget to like and share it with family and friends.
