This Student's Display of Sportsmanship Will Make You Cheer

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After a season of setbacks and injuries, Teagan Monfils had one goal for Saturday's cross-country sectionals: set a personal record. But as the high school junior approached the finish line, something happened that changed the outcome of her race.

"I saw the girl ahead of me and she was getting really wobbly on her feet," Teagan told a local news station. "She was 10 feet ahead of me and she just fell. The first thing that came to my mind was to make sure she was alright."

Rather than run ahead, as many others did, Teagan lifted the girl and carried her to the finish line — an act that was met with applause and cheers. But, as the saying goes, no good deed goes unpunished. Teagan was disqualified for violating the National Federation of State High School Associations rule that states you can't aid or assist another runner. However, she said she knew the consequences at the time and would do it all over again if given the chance. Because to her, running is all about finishing what you start.

"If you stop before the finish line, I feel like you can never get there because in the next meet, you're like, 'I can't get there, I can't do it, I didn't make it last time, I can't make it this time,'" Teagan says. "You just have to finish so you can do it again."