High School Track meets have had some horrible news lately. March kicked off with national news being made at a Virginia meet when Alaila Everett hit Kaelen Tucker in the back of the head with her baton. April 2nd in TX at a track meet, Karmelo Anthony fatally stabbed Austin Metcalf. Track meets needed a good news story and they got one from Bridgeport, Ohio.
Bridgeport’s Alli Vargas and Barnesville’s Bradie Nixon were neck and neck in the 300-meter hurdles race when Bradie began to slow down just 20 meters from the finish line. "Bradie was ahead of me. Just by a couple of steps around the last 20 meters, I noticed she was falling behind.”
Alli looked back and yelled “Come on. You got this.”
Bradie says "I’m thankful. I was exhausted. I probably would have knocked over the last hurdle and wouldn’t even have jumped it if she hadn’t said anything to me.”
Alli downplays the gesture, saying "I know so many people who are encouraging around this area and the track community. What matters is being able to get along with each other and not having any hard feelings, so yeah, I would encourage everyone to support your opponents.”
Alli did win the race but just by a nose. Bradie was very thankful. Alli sacrificed her time for me. She is an amazing person who helped someone she doesn't even know. I hope to become her friend.