Meghan Vogel is receiving a lot of media attention as of late, not for winning the state title for the 1600 meter race, which is news-worthy, but for her incredible act of kindness toward another competitor.
After winning the 3200 meter race she participated in this past Saturday, the young track star from Ohio assisted fellow competitor Arden McMath to the finish line,
The Springfield News-Sun reported that Vogel came to McMath’s aid by picking up and carrying the fallen runner to the end of the track, where she helped her across the finish line — ahead of herself.
Both runners came in at 14th and 15th place, but the audiance in attendance gave both girls a standing ovation.
Since the race, Vogel has stated that despite the increase of national media attention, what she did was a natural reaction to the circumstances.
“If you work to get to the state meet, you deserve to finish no matter who you are. I was going to make that happen for her no matter what,” Vogel told WDTN News.
Speaking with the Dayton Daily News, McMath expressed appreciation for her competitor’s act of good sportsmanship.
“I just couldn’t believe she’d done that for me,” McMath told the paper. “We’re all in it together as distance runners. Everyone is trying to do their best. It’s a lot harder on your body than a lot of the other races.”
According to ESPN, Vogel was so exhausted from her previous event she didn’t have enough energy to completely commit to the second race. But the junior from West Liberty-Salem High School said maybe it was meant to be.
“I think fate may have put me (in last place) for a reason,” Vogel told the station.
Now, the teen is trying to relax and enjoy the summer, though her mother said that hasn’t been easy.
“The phone’s been ringing a lot,” Ann Vogel told ESPN.
