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Phil Healy, University College Cork Relay Runner, Makes Rebound For The Ages

“UCC from the depths of hell are powering through."

There was almost no chance she'd win.

University College Cork runner Phil Healy was in fifth place on the final lap of the 4X400m relay at the recent Irish Universities Athletics Association Track and Field Championships.

Above footage of the event, in which Healy wore a red singlet, showed her far behind the leaders — for a good part of the final leg, she wasn't even in the frame.

But after she'd made it halfway through the lap, she started gaining on her competitors.

“With 130 metres to go I was like yeah, I’m feeling good they are not that far ahead of me, let’s get third place,” she told the Washington Post.

The announcers were stunned.

“UCC from the depths of hell are powering through,” yelled announcer Cathal Dennehy.

As Healy turned the last bend, she still felt strong, she told the Post.

"One of the girls just asked would I fill in on the last leg and I said ‘throw me in and I’ll see what I can do.'"

In the end, she pulled just ahead of "future Olympian" Michelle Finn to clinch first place, tripping and falling on the track.

Her incredible comeback has over two million views on YouTube since it was posted April 18, and likely many more on other sites where it was posted.

The third-year nursing student is pleased by the attention, especially because she only decided to be part of the 4x400 relay 20 minutes beforehand, she told the Irish Examiner.

“I had ran in the 100 and 200 metres and one of the girls just asked would I fill in on the last leg and I said ‘throw me in and I’ll see what I can do.'"

You can see Healy's amazing rebound starting at about 3:55 in the video above, but we recommend you sit and watch the whole relay. It's worth it.

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