The originators of 'The Running Man Challenge' are two awesome high school kids

Since we first introduced you to "The Running Man Challenge" two weeks ago, the physical comedy meme has taken the sports world by storm. It's hilarious and fun, and some of the biggest names in sports have posted their own submissions. 

But this didn't start with NFL stars or the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nope -- before it became the most irresistibly goofy meme in sports, "The Running Man Challenge" was started by two high school kids.

Those two students just got to meet America on The Ellen DeGeneres Show -- and they sure didn't disappoint in their 15 minutes of fame.

"The Running Man" challenge first started getting wide attention when NBA rookie Justise Winslow posted two videos two weeks ago. Previously, the physical comedy meme had spread like wildfire among college athletes on social media. 

Now, you might ask: "What is 'The Running Man Challenge'"? Imagine a physical comedy meme like planking, or "Gagnam Style," or "The Harlem Shake" -- but with a booster shot of mid-'90s hip-hop swagger. 

Creating a "Running Man Challenge" video is simple. Basically, you just dance to the 1995 R&B hit "My Boo" with equal parts silliness and seriousness. Here's Winslow's submission from two weeks ago; we'll get to the kids who started this whole thing in a second. 

Since Winslow posted that video, "The Running Man Challenge" has become the thing to do in pro sports. The Los Angeles Dodgers did it. Rob Gronkowski did it. The list goes on -- even to include police in New Zealand. 

"The Running Man Challenge" might have gone mainstream with Winslow's post, but it began getting attention in sports circles after University of Maryland basketball players Jared Nickens and Jaylen Brantley started posting videos to Instagram about a month ago. Here's one of those video from Nickens and Brantly -- then we'll spotlight the meme's underage originators. 

Many thought the meme originated with the Maryland teammates. Not so! 

Four months ago, high schoolers Kevin Vincent and Jeremiah Hall started posting Instagram videos of themselves dancing to "My Boo," the radio classic that Ghost Town DJ's put out more than 20 years ago. Here's one of the videos from Vincent and Hall. 

Who are these mysterious young men whose viral creation now owns the Sports Internet? The Hillside, New Jersey, residents just appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to explain. 

Like most good ideas, this one originated with some good ol' classroom boredom. (Finance class, specifically; shouts out to Ms. Graham!) In the video embedded atop this post, Vincent and Hall charmingly explain to Ellen the genesis of their dance-meme invention. 

It gets better from there. Ellen next brings out Nickens and Brantley -- the Maryland players who spread the meme -- to join Vincent and Hall on the couch. Then the two high schoolers are presented with a nice check for their college educations, and the whole group gets down to "My Boo."

A dance highlight is embedded below. The full segment is embedded atop this post. Check it out -- it's quite likely the most heart-warming five minutes you'll experience today. 

And finally -- because it's just so good -- here's the full "My Boo" track in all its 1995 glory.