It is no secret that the Eaglecrest cross country team is one of those that has been continually supportive of their team members and athletes from other schools.

    “I think it’s really cool how we’re all so kind to each other and push ourselves to be the best that we can be,” senior cross country runner Zoee Jordan said.

    With all of the negativity surrounding sports right now, it can be easy to forget the positive qualities of the game. As a society, we have shown more interest in the different types of cheating than in those that are actually playing fairly. We could all learn a lesson from our cross country team. While sportsmanship is a part of the sports world, it is very much a part of the rest of the world too.

    This summer, at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin and the United States’ Abbey D’Agostino were awarded the Pierre de Coubertin medal. This medal has also been called the International Fair Play Award and had only been awarded seventeen times in Olympic history. It is given to athletes that a jury of representatives decide have shown the true spirit of the Olympic Games. These track runners encouraged each other to finish the race despite the injuries D’Agostino received when the two collided. Hamblin and D’Agostino threw the race in order to keep supporting each other.

    A lack of sportsmanship can lead to unnecessary conflict on the field and within the teams. Forming a strong bond with fellow team members can help to avoid this conflict. The Eaglecrest cross country team has also been known for the relationships formed through the sport.

    “We don’t always get along, but the way I see it is we’re like a family and not all families always get along,” Jordan said.

      Now, I am not an athlete myself, but I do know my way around the field. I also know that sportsmanship is not always easy to come by these days. It is an important aspect of the sports world and here at Eaglecrest.