A cross country runner was disqualified after showing perfect sportsmanship.
What is perfect sportsmanship? Something amazing happened at a cross country meet in Utah on Oct. 18. Sean Rausch proved sportsmanship is more important than winning when he carried his teammate Blake Lewis across the finish line during a 3-mile race. Sean is a senior at Riverton High School in Utah. This was his last opportunity to compete for a state championship.
Blake, a junior at Riverton, broke his tibia just 200 meters from the finish line.
Blake was 400 meters away from the finish line when he first felt the sharp pain in his leg. By the time he reached 200 meters from the finish line, he felt a bone snap in his left leg and fell to the ground in agony.
Sean heard Blake scream out in pain and ran to his side to see what he could do for Blake. Sean decided to carry Blake on his back, carrying him past the finish line. Sean kept cheering his teammate on to make it to the finish line despite his screaming and pain. Doctors determined a cyst burst in the bone in Blake’s left leg, which caused the tibia to break.
Both runners were disqualified.
Cross country state championship rules in Utah disqualify runners if they touch another runner during the meet. Sean knew this and still disqualified himself by helping his teammate.
Some things are more important than winning.
Even though both runners were disqualified, Blake was completely grateful to discover how much his teammate cared about him. Blake considers Sean his hero.
Sean replied:
“I’m not a hero, I’m just Blake’s brother.”
Sean considers all his teammates family and would do the same for anyone in trouble. During an interview by Fox 13 news, Sean said he told Blake they were family as he carried him to the finish line. Knowing how important it is to an athlete to cross the line, Sean helped Blake get down and hop across the finish line. Blake’s mother met them at the finish line to congratulate and thank Sean.
Sean will compete again.
Even though this was Sean’s last chance for a state championship, it is not his last run during his high school career. Sean plans to compete at the Nike Cross regional race in Arizona. Blake says he wouldn’t miss cheering Sean on after what he did for him.
Sean has taught everyone what is truly important – love for the people around you.
NY Daily News and LittleThings.com are just two of the sources that have featured the story online. This story will teach millions what is truly important in life. Coaches and even parents put extreme pressure on students to win, especially during their senior years when recruiters may be watching. However, Sean knew being there for his friend and teammate is much more important than winning.
True sportsmanship puts the benefits of others above winning. It is the proper attitude all athletes should learn and demonstrate when competing in sports.
Blake’s mother, Brooke Lewis, stated:
“You hope that your son would be that kind of kid, that your son would pick that person up and carry them in, and I’m just so grateful for Sean that he was that kid.”
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