Runner carries rival and story goes viral. Cross country runner, Melanie Bailey defined good sportsmanship as she stopped in the middle of an important race to help her rival, Danielle LeNoue, who was injured.
People who came to watch the Eastern Dakota Conference’s Cross Country Championship in North Dakota on Saturday, were stunned to see one runner carrying a rival racer to the finish line. Just 800 meters from the finish line, Danielle LeNoue understood that the race was over for her as she crumbled to the floor in horrible pain due to a torn patella tendon.
Several other runners dashed by ignoring the senior from Fargo South High School, who was crying on the ground. But Miss Melanie Bailey showed compassion and love to the injured runner. Bailey who is a senior from the Devils Lake High School, was not happy with just keeping her rival on her feet, she picked her up, put her on her back and carried her to the finish line.
The story of the amazing runner who carried her rival to the finish line, has been making headlines and many say, it has restored their faith in humanity. Local media outlets spoke to both runners and you will not be surprised to learn that they have become great friends.
Danielle LeNoue who is also a cashier said as she sat on the floor, she was felling disappointed that after training so hard, she could not finish the race. She said:
“I felt like a pop in my knee. I felt like my leg was getting cut off… it was a bad pain. I could not go any further.”
Her rival made sure she crossed that line, even if it was eight minutes after first-place runner. LeNoue went on to add that what Bailey did, was the most unselfish act she had ever witnessed. When a reporter asked Bailey, why did she more or less dropped out from a state qualifying race to help a fellow runner, she gave this heart touching answer:
“It’s just a race that’s the thing. A person is forever, a race just lasts 25 minutes.”
Below is an interesting report on the runner, who carried her injured and sobbing rival.
