Teen Runner Carries Fallen Competitor to Finish Line

Any parent can relate to the rush of emotions they feel when their child achieves something great: counting to ten, learning to read, saying “please,” or finishing a race. For Ann Vogel, mother of distance runner Meghan Vogel, her most prideful moment came not from watching her daughter finish first in the 1600-meter state championship, but 15^th in the 3200-meter race.

After falling behind from dehydration and exhaustion, Meghan was still smiling when she came around the turn in her last 100 meters. It was then that she saw a familiar face, struggling to reach the finish line. Without thinking, Vogel rushed to the aid of Arden McMath, a fellow distance runner—but a stranger to Vogel, and assisted her to the end of the race, reports KSDK.com.

Plus: Are Kids’ Sports Too Competitive?

From across the track, mom Ann Vogel noticed an entire stadium rising to their feet and cheering for the duo. Tears and applause greeted the pair at the finish line, praising Meghan for her unparalleled sportsmanship and kindness. While the official rules state that assisting another runner is grounds for automatic disqualification, meet officials ignored this, placing McMath in 14^th and Vogel in 15^th, reports ESPN.com.

For a parent, witnessing your child in a moment of true heroism can be extremely emotional. "As a parent, it just knocked my socks off with what she did and her compassion and the fact she was just so humble about it and didn't really think it was that big of a deal it really impressed me," Vogel’s mother recounted to ESPN.

Plus: Teaching Kids to Learn from Failure

“I don't consider myself a hero. I just did what I knew was right and what I was supposed to do,” Vogel told ESPN.

Has your child ever done something truly selfless that made you stop in your tracks?