Uceny fails to get gold, but crowds still show support

Plymouth, IN -- She may not be the one lacing up her running shoes, but Aly Niedlinger can still feel the excitement build when she watches her cousin, Morgan Uceny, hit the track.

"Just making it to the olympics, to the finals, is such a great accomplishment," Niedlinger said. "So, everyone is standing behind her no matter what."

And she's not the only one.

Hundreds gathered at Plymouth High School today in hopes of watching Uceny bring home the gold. Even the high school football team delayed a scrimmage to get in on the action.

"We aren't going to get a penalty for being late tonight," John Barron, head coach, said. "This is really important to us and our community, and we want to support Morgan."

Uceny had a chance to win it all, but lost her balance and tripped -- just feet from the finish line; leaving those in the auditorium speechless.

"You could tell that whole room just went, 'shooo'," Kris Myers, a Uceny supporter, said. "You know, as a community, and family who have known her for her whole life, you want the most for her. You want what she wants."

Even though she came up short, Uceny is still a gold medalist in Plymouth's heart.

"You know, I think it even brings the community even closer when you have a situation like this," Stephen Styers, a Uceny supporter, said. "Circumstances where it wasn't Morgan's fault. It didn't have a thing to do with her. She's still number one champion in our community."