Huron High School athlete helps struggling runner make it to the finish line
Running comes easily for Huron High School junior Alexandria Cell. So does sportsmanship.
It was Cell’s encouragement that helped a Dearborn Divine Child runner make it to the finish line in a recent cross country meet, the Michigan High School Athletic Association reported.
Second Half, the organization’s online publication, tells the story of Cell and Mariah Fuqua, a Divine Child shot and discus thrower, who participates in cross country for conditioning and fitness improvement.
Fuqua had never finished a cross-country race before a Sept. 22 invitational meet at Detroit Catholic Central, the website reported She didn’t expect to finish this one either.
Then, she saw Cell cheering her on. Cell had already finished her own varsity race and was cheering on runners in the junior varsity event.
She ran out to meet Fuqua at the 1.5-mile mark and soon started running along with her for encouragement, according to the report. The two finished the race together to the cheers of hundreds of onlookers.
Comments
Evergreen
Wed, Oct 24, 2012 : 10:46 a.m.
For a lifelong understanding of sportsmanship all coaches, athletes and their parents should attend a State Special Olympics. Watch the runner in front of his heat yelling "go go" over his shoulder, stopping at the finish line to cheer the other runners, and watch the runner in back cheering for all the runners in front. State sports commission should send the Pioneer and Huron teams up to CMU to volunteer next year. Their lives will be changed forever, and not just sports!
Nick Roumel
Tue, Oct 23, 2012 : 2:35 a.m.
Allie Cell is a great kid and a class act. I had the privilege of coaching her in soccer one season. I encouraged my players to run the Big House Big Heart 5K one year and Allie accepted the challenge. I think it was her first race outside of school competition, and she did something insane like finishing 9th of over 1000 women racers overall at the age of 14. Go Allie!
Hunterjim
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 5:35 p.m.
Great story!
ArthGuinness
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 2:36 p.m.
I'd like to commend Miss Cell as well, for going above the call of duty - she should do well in life if she continues to do so. Also, as a fellow runner, I know that cheering and sideline encouragement really do give you a psychological boost when your body is aching.
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 12:17 p.m.
What an amazing athlete and sportsman this MISS CELL is. And to whoever wrote the story good job.
OLDTIMER3
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 12:49 p.m.
Also what a courageous and determined Mariah. I think both these girls will be a very successful in their future whatever they decide to do.
Paula Gardner
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 12:01 p.m.
I love all of the positive feedback on this story. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'm a Divine Child graduate, so take special joy in that connection! We have to devote a lot of staff time during the fall to game coverage, but also see excellent reader response to stories like this and one from Dexter soccer, for example: http://www.annarbor.com/sports/high-school/dexter-soccer-team-surprises-team-manager-who-has-down-syndrome-with-starting-lineup-spot-on-senior/ And just to prove that fall isn't just about football, here's a story from the weekend's state tennis finals. http://www.annarbor.com/sports/high-school/with-eight-newcomers-huron-wins-second-straight-boys-tennis-state-title/ Please stay in touch with us as you become aware of high school or other youth sports that you think are worth coverage. A lot of our kids are out there working really hard as student-athletes.
Thoughtful
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 11:14 a.m.
Wonderful story. Nice to hear about another sport for a change.
Riverrat
Mon, Oct 22, 2012 : 2 a.m.
Great story..
dan burkholder
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.
Well Done Ladies!
boo
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 11:06 p.m.
great story. kinda sad that only a handful of people posted a comment to this great story. Just proves that we are a bunch of sheep that flock to negative reality show type news. There were 10 stories and almost 500 comments on the brawl, but only 7 comments for this girl who did a great thing. Shame on us.
jcj
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
Very good story! There are more if we look for them.
dfossil
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 6:19 p.m.
She should be the instructor for the Football teams and their coaches all the way up in this area called sportsgirlship! The men have none!
jcj
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 10:14 p.m.
Put a lid on it!
squidlover
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
I love stories like this. Kudos to Alexandria for her great show of sportsmanship. Kudos to Mariah for her spirit and not giving up. Way to show up the football program, you two.
Linda Peck
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 3:36 p.m.
There are so many beautiful, inspiring young people! Thank you for telling this story about this one!
Blerg
Sun, Oct 21, 2012 : 2:25 p.m.
What a great story about the true sportsmanship that exists in our high school athletes. Three cheers for Alexandria and Mariah! Three cheers to the MHSAA for finding and publishing a positive story about high school athletics. AA.com, care to take a cue and start finding and writing your own *positive* stories about our high school athletes?