I'm glad to hear though that someone else agrees that competition isn't a horrible motivator... I was feeling a bit guilty.

Nah, competition within reason can be a healthy stressor. Just be mindful that turning focus inward doesn't become a race to perfectionism, though-- that's why I suggest process and outcome both be acknowledged.
I was more thinking along the lines of turning focus outward to become an hostile race toward personal destruction of the competition, kind of a private cointelpro.
I'm thinking of Election, the 1999 movie with that Ferris Bueller guy.
You know, I watched Ferris Bueller's day off way, way too many times.