Anyone who’s ever been part of a competition in earnest will know the mental state that can come over you, both before and during the contest itself.
For Madeline Adams, who was to run in the ACC Women’s Cross Country Championship, it was no different. Confident as she’d ever been, she barely gave a thought to the idea that something bad might happen during the race. Instead, her hair was pulled up, her shoes were tied, and she set foot onto the track with the goal of taking home gold.
Unfortunately, for all her mental strength, Madeline’s body was about to fail her …
Despite completing most of the track at a strong, steady pace, Madeline began to suddenly tire as she neared the finish line.
Speaking to CBS News, she described what happened next: “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.
“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.'”
Madeline could go no further. After collapsing to the ground she tried to regain her footing, but it was to no avail.
Runners passed her by, streaming towards the finish line and leaving Madeline to taste the bitter prospect of what might have been. Until …
One runner, Evie Tate of Clemson, stopped when she drew level with Madeline, and tried to lift her to her feet. Carrying Madeline’s dead weight alone proved an almost impossible task, but then a second runner, Rachel Pease from Louisville, hoisted Madeline’s other arm over her shoulder and shared the load.
Together, the pair attempted to carry Madeline over the finish line together, and though she was forced to abandon the race in favor of being treated for exhaustion by medical staff, it’s something Madeline will never forget.
She said: “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.”
Watch the video below for more on this incredible act of compassion:
That’s what true competition is really about! What an inspiring story.
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