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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Student athletes Lindsay Forrette and Jess Partlow commended by ECAC commissioner for 'tremendous act of sportsmanship'

Two members of the University of New England women's cross country team were recognized recently by Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Commissioner Rudy Keeling for "a tremendous act of sportsmanship" for putting the safety of a competitor above themselves.

During the second lap of the ECAC Division III Cross Country Championship Nov. 6, 2010 at Colt State Park in Bristol, Rhode Island, a runner from Salve Regina collapsed from an asthma attack.

While many competitors in the heat of the race passed by her, two runners from UNE, Lindsay Forrette, a sophmore marine biology major, and Jess Partlow, a junior medical biology major, stopped to help the  runner in distress, temporarily taking themselves out ot the race to assist her.

"You should be extremely proud of your student-athletes for their selfless act of sportsmanship, and for putting the well-being of a fellow competitor above themselves," wrote Commissioner Keeling in a letter to UNE Athletic Director Kimberly Allen.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.