"Just so as to attain a specific thing you have worked all your life for, it is a good feeling and you cannot place it into words," said Vogel. The girl was the 1600 meter state champ, the very first girl from West Liberty Salem to acquire a track title in more than Two decades.
What folks there on that day will certainly remember won't be her win, but the race in which she finished last. "It really was emotional and people came up to us in tears moved by what Meghan had done," said Ann Vogel, Meghan's Mother and track coach.
The thing is, after her victory, Meghan still had the 3200 meters to run, but her emotionally depleting win had taken its toll.
She was only wanting to complete the race when it occurred.
"I was on my way around the turn and I had most likely 100 meters remaining and she was 50 meters ahead of me and I witnessed her tumble."
Just what Meghan did next not only raised up another runner, but a full stadium.
"I just did not think twice about it. I knew I was likely to pick her up and help her out. If a person work to reach the state meet, a person deserve to finish regardless of who you are. I was going to make that happen for her no matter what."
The official results reveal that Arden McMath from Arlington High School finished 14th in the 3200 meters. Meghan Vogel 15th.
But in fact they finished together.
"Distance athletes have this companionship they develop running against one another for sometimes 6 years and you just fully grasp this relationship and you turn into a family."
Right after the race, the two shared something else.
"We actually ended up being in the same training room together. In the bed next to each other acquiring fluids and trying to get rehydrated."
Meghan wears her winner's medal with pride, but she does not need it to demonstrate she's a champion. "As a parent, it just knocked my socks off with what she did and her compassion and the simple fact she was just so humble about it and did not really believe it was that big of a deal it truly amazed me."
Because oftentimes it's not where you finish, but how you finish the race.
On Meghan's shirt is a slogan. Part Speed. Part Stamina. All heart. That flawlessly covers the girl who found victory while finishing last. "I knew any girl on that field would do that for me so I was going to do that for Arden."
