The Mallard Creek High School boys’ track team was disqualified from the state championship after senior runner Nyan Brown was flagged for unsportsmanlike behavior during the final leg of the 4×400 relay.
This disqualification ultimately cost the team the state title, resulting in a second-place finish behind Jordan High School.
The Mallard Creek team was poised to secure its fifth state title, needing only two points to clinch the championship.
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The team was seeded number one in the 4×400 relay, meaning they needed to finish at least fifth in the event to earn the necessary points.
Earlier in the same meet, Brown set a personal best in the 300-meter hurdles, breaking a nearly 20-year state record.
Samuel Willoughby, the boy’s head track coach, expressed disbelief over the disqualification and disputed claims that Brown had been warned previously for similar conduct.
Willoughby stated, “I know that’s the message people are going to say is if he was warned before, why did he do something like this again. He was never warned.”
He further added, “He never did anything to anyone to suggest that he was showing up another individual. He was happy for himself. For her to say that was a warning, it’s mind-blowing.”
Bryant Bailey, the Mallard Creek athletics director, raised concerns about the consistency of rule enforcement.
Bailey remarked, “The issue is the actual inconsistency of what you’ve stated for the actual rules. There’s a huge gray area.”
The commissioner for the State High School Athletic Association issued a statement affirming that judgment decisions made by meet officials are done with full knowledge of rules from the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The commissioner also acknowledged the disappointment felt by the student-athletes, coaches and the school community involved.
Mallard Creek has since sent a letter to the state appealing the call, but state officials confirmed that an official’s ruling is considered final.
Coach Willoughby lamented the irreversible nature of the event, stating, “The moment’s gone. The celebration is gone. You can’t get that back.”
Despite the boys’ team finishing second, the Mallard Creek women’s team achieved success by capturing their first outdoor state championship.
State officials consider an official’s ruling final, indicating no further action will be taken regarding Mallard Creek’s appeal.