High School Runner Helps Other Runner Who's About To Pass Out And Die, Both Are Promptly Disqualified From The Race

(October 26, 2015) – A high school runner in Iowa won a big race, but he won’t get credit. He was disqualified for an act of kindness. During the district cross country championship, Zach Hougland helped another runner. Hougland’s coach says the other runner was on the ground unconscious. So Hougland helped him get closer to the finish line. “I see this kid, he’s like dying and what not, and he’s about ready to fall,” Hougland told WHO-TV. But Iowa state athletic rules say no runner can help or receive aid from another runner, so they were both disqualified. Hougland was heartbroken. He told WHO-TV, “I didn’t want anyone to see me break down because I couldn’t take it, all that work for nothing. But If I could do it all again I wouldn’t change a thing because I did what I thought was right.” The rest of Zach’s team scored well enough to finish overall and qualified for state. That means Zach will still be able to compete in their meet this Saturday.

Yet another example of high school athletics making ZERO sense in the rules department. Kid running in a race sees a kid in need, helps him out, kid who helped the other kid wins the race, both are instantly disqualified for a rule that only makes sense if there was cheating.  Like if some kid was giving another kid a piggy back ride for 90% of the race.  Then you disqualify them. Drop the hammer on ‘em. But not when a kid is being good and decent to another human being. It’s the same thing every time with these high school administrators. A lack of common sense. An inability to look at something on a case-by-case basis. Anybody with half a brain sloshing around in their skull knows the right thing to do in this situation.  Nothing. Nothing at all. The kid helped another kid. Bravo. Give him a gold star and a pat on the back. Instead they disqualified him and stripped him of his win. Good call.  The lesson here is that you should never ever do the right thing.  Even if a competitor is about to pass out and die during the competition, just keep it moving. Do not help him.  Better yet, stomp on his face, kick him in the balls and insult his mother’s weight. Shout out to this high school for turning a cool moment into a disaster.