FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Written by GNAC Specialist Ben Bradley
GNAC student-athletes lend
hand to fallen female runner
WINTHROP, Mass. – On November 1, Norwich University freshman Sophia Ruggie was just over halfway through the course at Saint Joseph's College of Maine at the 2014 GNAC Cross Country Championships when disaster struck.
The rookie was heading downhill when she lost her balance and tumbled, spraining her ankle in the process.
"I fell and rolled my ankle, began rolling down a hill and into a pile of leaves," said Ruggie.
Fortunately for Ruggie (pictured, right), she wasn't down for long when Mount Ida College freshman Sydney Fredette came upon her. Fredette was aware that she would be disqualified and would not score for her team if she stopped to assist the fallen runner.
"I slowed down to ask if she was okay and she said she was fine and told me to keep running," said Fredette. "But I could tell that she was in pain so I stopped to help her up."
"My parents always taught me that there are things bigger than ourselves," added Fredette. "When it came to helping her, it was the only thing I thought to do. I felt bad for letting my team down by not finishing, but my coaches and teammates were proud."
Meanwhile, Emmanuel College junior Thomas Tallo and his teammates came upon Ruggie while they were out for a warm-up preparing for the men's championship race that was to follow. Tallo and Fredette stayed with Ruggie while the rest of the Saints men's team went to get help.
Tallo (pictured, left) and Fredette began their attempt to assist Ruggie back to the finish line when they reached a hill that Ruggie could not climb due to her injury.
"I'm just going to carry you," said Tallo, before hoisting the Cadets' freshman onto his back.
Tallo continued to assist Ruggie for almost a mile to get back to the beginning of the course where she could receive medical treatment.
"I just wanted to get her to where other people were," said Tallo, who went on to finish 30th in the men's championship race.
After the race, a grateful Ruggie was able to look on the bright side.
"My ankle hurts, but you just have to laugh at it. I just want to say thank you to them," she said.
Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.
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