Everyone's a winner in girls' 400 relay - (High School Sports)

"Friday, May 13, 2005

By Mike White, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The four girls who had been tearing up Western Pennsylvania high school track had been brought to tears, their hopes of defending their district and state championships in the 400-meter relay dashed by a fallen runner on Wednesday.

But a goodwill gesture by some opponents has given Penn Hills High School another chance. Three teams that finished ahead of them decided to step aside, giving the Penn Hills girls a shot at the championships after all."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05133/503895.stm

Norwin one of the schools mentioned is the district my children go to and I am immensely proud of what those gals did, including the Hempfield and Highlands gals!

This is one of those feel good stories that I think shows that there is hope in the world!

We could all learn a lesson from these girls.

;)

and how a group of grown men can't handle having "their way" at any cost....doesn't matter that they don't have a national mandate..nope...they just do what they want...

I love hearing stories like this. To the girls that gave up their spot, I applaud you and your true sportsmanship. Well done.

I competed in track in high school.

One item regarding athletics as an educational tool is the concept of practice, hard work and execution. Baton passing is a fundamental of the sport. Over the years I've seen talented relay teams lose due to false start/baton dropping/etc. Sport teaches one to win with humility and if you lose, to brush yourself off and get over it.

This relay lost because of their own fault. Why reward their failure?

What's next, conceeding a victory because the other team missed a free throw? late field goal attempt wide right?

I wonder what kind of precedant this will send.

They lost. They should take it on the chin and aim to do better next time.

I think it's a remarkable show of good sportswomenship (as someone posted earlier).

When I was in High School, there was a team we regularly competed against. They were at college level ability if not better. Later many of these same athletes went on to the Olympics.

If there is a team that basically blows everyone off the track meet after meet and they blow their chance in a qualifying meet by a poor exchange, damn straight I would give them another shot. Why send a second rated team that will have their asses handed to them when a truly amazing team can win one for the division.

Team sports are just that, a team, but the team doesn't end with your own high school, it extends to your division as well.

So nice to see a feel-good story like this amidst all the crap in the world.

in this world.

and a wonderful example. Thanks for posting. :toast:

Julie