Chicago, IL — What began as a personal challenge for Boston marathoner Sarah Bohan turned into an unexpected rescue mission when she spotted a distressed kitten along the course of the Chicago Marathon on Sunday.
The 26-year-old social worker at Boston Children’s Hospital was nearing mile 21 when she noticed a tiny, matted white kitten crying on the sidewalk. Despite being on pace for a personal record, Bohan didn’t hesitate to stop.
“It had to have been one pound, its fur was matted, and it looked like it hadn’t been cared for,” Bohan told PEOPLE. “No one else seemed to see it, so I turned around and scooped it up.”
Fellow runner Gia Nigro joined Bohan in the impromptu rescue effort, and the pair walked along the sidelines, cradling the kitten while asking spectators if they could take it in. After a mile of searching, two self-described “cat moms” volunteered.
“I must have asked them five times to confirm they’d care for it,” Bohan laughed. “I wasn’t going to hand it off to just anyone.”
Once the kitten was safe, Bohan and Nigro resumed the race, even pausing to help another runner who had fallen. The trio crossed the finish line together. Though Bohan missed her personal best, she finished in 3:31:35—a time she considers secondary to the day’s real victory.
Ironically, Bohan was running for PAWS Chicago, a no-kill shelter, as part of their charity team. She insists the rescue was pure coincidence, as she only joined the team after failing to secure a spot in last year’s race lottery.
Had no one taken the kitten, Bohan says she would have dropped out to ensure its safety. “Human compassion kicks in instinctually,” she said. “This cat needed someone, and I was ready to be that person.”
The kitten, now in a loving home, turned Bohan’s race into a story of serendipity—and a reminder that sometimes the finish line isn’t the only goal.
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