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The TAPPS motto is "Competition with Honor," and while I've witnessed athletes compete honorably and with sportsmanship for 28 years as a coach in TAPPS, I cannot recall a moment of altruism quite like what happened during the 3A Girls 400-meter race.
Elizabeth Hamblin of Fellowship Academy (Kennedale) opened a sizable lead on the field as she sped through the final curve into the homestretch - 15-20 meters ahead of second-place GloryEvelyn Mitchell of Fort Worth Covenant Classical.
And then the unthinkable.
Elizabeth fell.
Her knees gave out.
She resumed and continued, but after another step or two, she fell again.
GloryEvelyn stopped to help Elizabeth cross the finish line, dropping from a sure second position to sixth, a difference of five points.
The entire incident lasted 4-5 seconds, but the impact proves that a spontaneous act such as this is character-defining, the epitome of TAPPS' motto.
***Clarification: in the interview, GloryEvelyn mentions the possibility of Elizabeth having a condition where her knees naturally weaken. This is speculation. The reason behind Elizabeth's fall hasn't been 100% determined.