Madeline Adams spent months training for the ACC Women’s Cross Country Championship, and she thought that the only thing that was important to her was winning the race. She had no idea that she would end up leaving this race with a completely new outlook on life.

Though Madeline was confidant as she began the race, it soon became clear that her body was not on the same page as her brain.

Madeline had a strong start to the race, but as she got close to the finish line, she felt a drastic change in her endurance.

“I was running the race of my life. I was doing incredibly well. I was coming up that hill (to the finish line), I started to feel really fatigued,” she recalled. “All of a sudden, I get this wave that comes over me and my legs just truly gave out from underneath me. I had no control. I really don’t remember falling, I remember being on the ground and being like, ‘why am I on the ground? Get up.'”

Madeline was so exhausted that she collapsed to the ground, and though she tried to get back up, her legs were too tired out to support her. Madeline was devastated as she watched runner after runner pass her by, as she realized that she had totally lost the race.

Suddenly, runner Evie Tate from Clemson stopped and tried to pick her up, but Madeline’s dead weight was too much for her. Seeing this, runner Rachel Pease from Louisville put Madeline’s arm over her shoulder and ran towards the finish line with her.

Madeline was incredibly grateful to Evie and Rachel for helping her when she most needed it.

“The great part that comes out of this is there are two amazing girls that helped me, who are completely selfless and just amazing people with amazing character,” she said afterwards.

After crossing the finish line with her new friends, Madeline received medical treatment for exhaustion and has since made a full recovery.

These girls may not have won the race but they’re winners for their selfless show of sportsmanship!