Valentina Villarreal Shows True Grit In Crisis Situation For Oak Lawn Girls Cross Country

OAK LAWN, IL—Sometimes there are more important things in sports than scores or recording the best time. Sometimes, simple humanity rises above all the rest. So, when Oak Lawn Community High School girls cross country runner Valentina Villarreal recently stopped her own race to help another injured runner on the course, her true character came to light.

Quick thinking and quick action helped the runner get the medical attention she needed.

“Valentina showed what real character looks like during a recent race,” OLCHS head coach Sue Szala said. “When a runner collapsed on the course with no one else around to help, Valentina and a runner from another school didn’t hesitate. They stopped their own race, got her onto Valentina’s back, and carried her to get medical attention. Thanks in part to their quick thinking, the runner is doing well.

“Afterwards, a coach from another school went out of their way to praise our team for how Valentina handled the situation. Valentina didn’t stop to think about her time or her place in the race. She just saw someone who needed help and acted. In a sport that’s often about beating the clock, she reminded everyone what really matters, and we couldn’t be prouder to have her representing this program.”

~ Contributed by Brian Frangella, OLCHS Feature Writer