Despite crossing the finish line first, an Iowa teen was disqualified for helping a fellow runner who collapsed before finishing the race.
Zachary Hougland, 17, of Davis County High School made history by winning as the first district champion from his school.
But when he saw Garret Hinson, 17, struggling, he helped him cross the finish line.
"This guy was about 20 meters from the finish line and he looked awful," Hougland said, according to Fox News. "His face was turning white and he was holding his chest. He looked like he was going to fall."
Hougland asked other runners to help him but no one did. He rushed to his side to help.
"I didn't know who he was. I didn't even know what school he was from. I just stepped in and helped him. I didn't want him to fall," he said.
"I couldn't stand seeing him like that. I felt that someone should help him – so I pictured myself in his shoes," he added.
Hinson thanked Hougland for what he did, saying it was totally unexpected. "I was amazed that someone that'd just won the race would come back and help somebody like he did," Hinson told ABC News. "I never expected something like that to happen to me."
For his good deed, Hougland was disqualified and stripped of his title.
Jared Chizek, the assistant director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, told ABC News that it was a violation of the National Federation of State High School Association race rules.
"If a competitor receives or gives assistance, that competitor is disqualified from the event," he said.
Hougland said "it was very disappointing,"
"I did a lot of work during the summer. All that work for nothing," he said.
The public denounced the school association's decision, urging it to reconsider, but association officials refused.
Zach's mom, Nancy Hougland, said she was proud of her son. "Cross-country is a sport where in some of these places they're kind of off by themselves so it's nice to think that the kids have each other's backs," she said.
