During a recent high school track meet in Bridgeport, Ohio, two athletes stood out for their remarkable sportsmanship in the 300-meter hurdles. Bridgeport’s Alli Vargas and Barnesville’s Bradie Nixon were neck and neck in the race when Bradie began to slow down just 20 meters from the finish line. Instead of seizing the opportunity to pass, Alli paused to encourage her competitor, saying, “Come on. You got this.”
Bradie credits Alli’s support with helping her finish the race. “I was tired and just kind of froze,” Bradie recalls, adding that she might not have cleared the final hurdle without Alli’s encouragement. The two girls crossed the finish line together.
Alli downplays the gesture, saying it was natural to help her competitor finish. “You always want to finish a race strong,” she says. A photo of the touching moment was shared on social media, where it quickly spread as an example of good sportsmanship.