High school runner stripped of first-place title for helping rival finish race

In an age where every young athlete seems to get a trophy for just showing up, this high school cross country runner lost his first-place award for an act of good sportsmanship.

Zachary Hougland, a 17-year-old senior and member of Iowa's Davis High School cross country team has been stripped of his first-place title — because he helped an injured rival to finish the race.

Hougland competed at a meet last week and finished first, according to WHOtv.com. But after he crossed the finish line, the teen looked back at the course and saw a runner from an opposing team, Garret Hinson of Mediapolis High School collapse.

"Is anyone going to help him?, " he shouted before running back to lift Hinson and carry him to the finish line.

But despite his act of kindness, officials told him it was grounds for disqualification according to National Federation of State High School Association (NFHS) rules, and rescinded his winning title.

Hougland will be able to compete in the state championships as part of a team because his classmates qualified — but not as a solo competitor.

And nobody was more upset than the runner Hougland helped.

"When I first found out from his coach that he had been disqualified," Hinson told  ABC. "I was more upset over that than I had been over how my own race had went. 

"Cross-country is a sport that takes months of dedication and training. To take away someone's chances at a state run for helping out someone that was obviously struggling when it was too late to have really affected any results doesn't seem right."

In a statement to ABC, administrator Jared Chizek said: "NFHS rules do not allow a competitor to receive or give assistance from or to another competitor during a race. 

"If a competitor receives or gives assistance, that competitor is disqualified from the event."

And while Hougland won't have the chance to win an individual title, the runner told WHOtv.com he has no regrets about what he did. 

"If I could do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing because I did what I thought was right."

Too bad they don't give out trophies for benevolence. 

High school runner carries injured opponent across finish line (PHOTO)

If a picture says a thousand words, then this photo of a cross-country runner carrying an injured competitor across the finish line during a North Dakota race speaks volumes about the true meaning of sports.

The amazing show of compassion happened Saturday at the Eastern Dakota Conference’s Cross County Championship. Fargo South runner Danielle LeNoue was nearing the final stretch of the race, when she felt a pop in her knee. She crumpled to the ground in pain,. It was an injury to her patella tendon.

“I started walking, and I could not go any further,” she told ABC affiliate WDAY-TV in Fargo.

Devils Lake senior runner, Melanie Bailey, encountered the fallen competitor. While others ran past, Bailey stopped.

“All I could think about was she was in a lot of pain. And I wanted to help her,” Bailey said.

Bailey asked LeNoue to hop on her back. That’s how the two crossed the finish line, with Bailey carrying a sobbing LeNoue.

“Honestly, I loved the way I ended it,” Bailey said. “It was a great way to end my cross-country season.”

“It’s pretty cool,” LeNoue said. “Touching moment for myself.”

No words are necessary.