Every year, the U.S. Olympic Committee makes a special award to “an athlete, coach, or official in recognition of an outstanding act of fair play and sportsmanship displayed during the past year.” The recipient is often a pro- or college-level participant, and past recipients have included Lance Armstrong (in 1998) and Jackie Joyner-Kersee (in 1997).
This fall, the award went to a high school cross-country runner from North Carolina named Jenna Huff.
If you love dramatic sports stories, Jenna’s may make your spine tingle. [For a full recounting, see this great column by the Charlotte Oberserver’s sports reporter Scott Folwer.] Last year, her team was competing with a number of others in a big regional championship meet that would determine its qualification for a berth in the state championship. From the starting gun, Jenna found herself running side-by-side with another runner, Deb Guthman. The two runners were near each other for the entire race, but Deb was always just slightly out in front. Jenna tried, but couldn’t gain an advantage.
In the last 100 yards of the race, Jenna prepared for one final sprint to overtake Deb, this girl she didn’t know, but whom she’d been running beside for the past three miles.
As Jenna and Deb approached the “chute,” the finishing area of the race, the crowd went wild with cheering. It just so happened that Jenna’s and Deb’s teams were so far tied in the overall standings. The winner of the final sprint across the finish line would also determine the team winner, and which of the two teams would take a trip to states.
However, just 50 yards from the finish line, Deb stopped running. Her hip, which had been hurting her throughout the run, suddenly exploded with pain. She didn’t know it yet, but her growth plate had just popped off her bone. Doctors later told her that the pain would be similar to that of breaking a bone. Deb crumpled to a bent position. This was Jenna’s chance to sprint ahead and finish the race.
But that wasn’t what Jenna did. As Scott Fowler, the Charlotte Observer columnist who publicized the story, tells us,
“The first thing that went through my mind,” Jenna said, “was good golly, she just ran 3 miles that fast and she’s going to stop right there? Right at the finish line?
“I didn’t think about passing her, though. It wouldn’t have been right, because she was hurt. Instead, I grabbed her. I looked at her and I said, ‘C’mon. We’re going to run, and we’re going to do it now.’”
Jenna took hold of Deb’s arm and gently guided her forward.
Deb took a few tentative steps, then started jogging again.
Said Deb: “She kept telling me, ‘C’mon, look, it’s right there.’ And I was crying. I wasn’t really saying anything.”
As they neared the finish line, Jenna stopped. She pushed Deb one step ahead of her, ensuring that Deb would finish before she did.
The crowd, which had been cheering a moment before, mostly dissolved into tears. As Scott Fowler put it, “In the next few minutes, you could have made a bundle if you had a Kleenex concession stand at the finish line.”
Race officials debated over what to do, in consultation with several coaches. According to the rules, both girls should be disqualified, since runners are not allowed to aid one another. However, the officials decided to allow the results to stand: Deb’s official time was one second ahead of Jenna’s. Deb’s team would go to states and Jenna’s would not.
Deb’s coach, David Malady, said, “I’ve coached track and cross country for 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything like it. Kids are always falling apart at or near the finish line – sick, tired, whatever. And they just get passed. Over and over. You just don’t stop and grab somebody and help them. It’s like an unwritten rule. You just don’t. But Jenna did.”
What stands out about Jenna’s act of sportsmanship is the fact that it was, as she says, “a split-second decision.” She had no time to think about the pro and cons of the situation. She acted immediately, guided by a strong sense of fairness. So often, events that display our character come in moments like these of split-second decisions. What values do you instill in your athletes to help them make the right choices when it’s time for a fast decision?
A video interview with Jenna and Deb.
Scott Fowler’s recent follow-up column on the award from the USOC
Image: Jenna Huff (right) assists Deb Guthmann to the finish line, October 2010. By Julia DuChateau
This was great, I also think the the race officials should some how be rewarded for being smart and not disqualification both girls. So many time we see officials also all to ready to follow the set rules, when you could make the right decision, like these officials did. So I also want to congratulate the officials on showing that CHARACTER COUNTS!
THIS IS A VERY MOVING AND INTERESTING STORY.
Way to go Jenna!!!! You must be a fantastic young lady to have done this super act of kindness. I’ve been a school administrator for 40 years but have never seen something like this happen. I applaud you and wish you well in all of your future.
And, Deb, you too are an excellent young person. I’ll bet that you two will be close friends for years and years.
Thanks, Bill Wotring, New Matamoras, Ohio
What a heart warming real life sports story. In a day when football players celebrate over a fallen opponent to read this account brings tears of joy. We must all remember, just because the media seems to concentrate on the bad things that happen in sports, there are still thousands of young athletes who will do the right thing when given the chance.
WOW!! What a heartwarming story!! I teach fifth grade at a Lutheran school and can’t wait to share this story with my students!! What a great example of God’s love!!!
[...] Although the rules called for both girls to be disqualified, officials decided to let the results stand. Deb’s team would go to state, but Jenna’s would not. However, that day’s race made two former strangers close friends and impacted all who heard of Jenna’s sacrifice. Deb’s coach, David Malady, said, “I’ve coached track and cross country for 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything like it. You just don’t stop and grab somebody and help them. It’s like an unwritten rule. You just don’t. But Jenna did.” For more of this article, click HERE. [...]
Obviously, some find this a heartwarming story. I find it disturbing. Although Jenna’s actions were well-intended, she could have caused serious injury to Deb by encouraging her. It is bizarre that the officials did not disqualify Deb and actually placed her in front of Jenna. While sportsmanship is admirable, deliberately letting someone win misses the point of competition. (Full disclosure: this writer once broke his tibia after finishing 2.5 miles of a 2.6 mile race. Nobody extended a hand to drag me across the finish line, and such assistance would not have been accepted had it been offered either from my team or the competitor).