High school runner Ben Boardley did not realize his sportsmanship could have resulted in disqualification. Not that it would have mattered.
In Saturday’s Indiana state cross-country meet at Terre Haute, the Penn High School runner saw Jesuit’s Faizan Khan fall as both approached the finish line. Boardley stopped to help, pulling on Khan’s left arm to raise him to his feet, before both continued running.
Boardley said – “I just kind of saw it and did it. I guess that’s how my parents raised me. They taught me to treat others how I’d want to be treated, and to be helpful when I can.”
The moment was captured on video and posted on Twitter. Some of Boardley’s friends saw the incident on a livestream and immediately texted. Others told him it was “pretty cool”.
Khan connected with Boardley via Instagram after the race to thank him.
By rule, a runner can be disqualified for assisting another. But an Indiana High School Athletic Association official reviewed the incident and decided no violation occurred.
Out of 207 finishers, Boardley was 189th. Khan was 193rd, or eight seconds behind the Penn runner. Neither was in his team’s scoring five, so a DQ would have been irrelevant.
After the race Khan said, “I know what Ben’s priorities are. And what his true character is like.”