Enterprise State cross country freshman Emmie Long was on pace for a personal-best finish last week at the Montevallo Falcon Classic.

That is until she decided helping an injured competitor was more important.

Long, a native of Webb, was on the second and final loop of the women's 5K when she noticed a Montevallo runner was down and injured. Long didn't race any further. Long made sure that adequate care was given to the runner before proceeding with her race, no matter how long it took.

"Emmie Long's actions are a testament to her character, camaraderie, and sportsmanship, embodying the highest values we strive for in our student-athletes," said Enterprise State cross country coach Christopher Christian.

Long had a legitimate opportunity to finish the race under 25 minutes but instead finished the race at 28:00.36.

According to Christopher, as Long was reaching the top portion of the hilly and more isolated section of the terrain, she encountered a fellow runner crying loudly and seemed visibly in pain on the ground. Long stopped to ask her if she was "ok" and when the response was "no," Long asked the runner if she wanted her to get help. The runner replied "yes." Long stated that she called out for help and when no one responded, she reversed course close to the spectator and team tent area and called again for help. Again, she did not get a response, so she returned to the grounded runner and asked her if she wanted help to stand up. The runner replied that she was unable to move due to pain in her back. Long returned a second time to the main area and found a team not competing and asked them for help. Long stated that two ladies followed her to the hurt runner to help. Once she was comfortable that the woman was taken care of, Long proceeded back to the race.

"Emmie was on pace for a sub-25-minute finish, but ultimately finished in a time of 28:00. Emmie has never run an official time below 26:00 in a race. I believe she would've hit sub 25 based upon her training and that fact that she had run a sub 25 for 5KM in practice as part of a tempo run," Christopher said.

The Montevallo team was appreciative of Long's selfless efforts.

"We greatly appreciate the sportsmanship that Emmie Long showed during the Falcon Classic. That's what sportsmanship is all about," said Montevallo cross country coach Tommie Barksdale.

The Alabama Community College Conference had nine teams compete at the Falcon Classic.

"I saw Emmie come back down the course twice to tell someone that a runner was down, obviously giving away her time/pace to account for her fellow athlete," said Dr. Michelle Ivey Marion Military Institute's Athletic Director and the ACCC Women's Regional Director.

Added Patrick Laney, Northeast Alabama CC's cross country coach: "What Emmie did was everything I would hope we are instilling in our people."

Enterprise State's women's cross country team is competing in its second season.

The Lady Boll Weevils next meet is Friday, Sept. 20 in the Argonaut Invitational at the University of West Florida.