Photo by Mary Ann Magnant
In her final cross country race at Great Mills High School, senior Annie Imhof could have kept running. It was her last chance to clock a fast 5K before graduating and heading to run at the Naval Academy next season. Saturday's NXN Southeast Regional was essentially the culmination of months of hard work, going all the way back to the summer.
Instead, Imhof saw fellow competitor Kendall Nelson struggling to the finish line and decided to take action. Watch the final 50 meters of their races below (start at 10:25):
These weren't two rivals, or friends that know each other outside of school. Imhof and Nelson (from Marist High School in Georgia) had never raced each other, likely never met each other and may never see each other again. However the sport of cross country has, time and time again, shown that it can bring out the best in anyone, regardless of the situation.
