After previously stripping a high school track star of a state championship due to his taunting at the finish, officials in North Carolina have reversed their decision. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association announced on Tuesday that the Mallard Creek High School boys' track team would be awarded the title of Class 8A co-state champions, as well as the co-winners of a decisive 4x400m relay.
It was during this race when athlete Nyan Brown was disqualified after he threw up five fingers after crossing the finish line first. While Brown and his coach both said this was to signify the school's fifth straight track title across indoor and outdoor seasons, race officials disqualified him anyway, stating Brown was previously warned for a different post-race celebration.
The school appealed the disqualification to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Interscholastic Appeals Board, which ruled in Mallard Creek's favor. Following an emergency meeting, the NCHSAA recognized the school's victories but also chose not to strip away the race-day results from the other teams who initially were named winners after Brown's disqualification.
Co-State Champions Named
C.E. Jordan High School will share the overall state title with Mallard, while Hough High School will share the victory in the relay race. 'We recognize that this situation has been emotional for the student-athletes, coaches, schools and communities involved,' NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said. 'At the center of this matter are young people who have invested countless hours into their sport and their team. We are pleased that this matter has reached a resolution and that the accomplishments of the student-athletes involved can be recognized.'
'We are grateful for the decision,' Mallard Creek principal Jared Thompson said in a statement which also praised Tucker and the appeals board 'for their thoughtful deliberation, professionalism, and commitment to ensuring a fair and principled outcome.' Thompson went on to thank individuals and organizations from across the country 'who offered their support to Mallard Creek High School during this process.'
Brown's Statement
At the time of his disqualification, Brown expressed disappointment in the outcome and said he would 'never intentionally taunt another athlete.' 'That relay mattered deeply to me because a win would have secured our team's fifth consecutive state championship,' he said on social media. 'I wanted that for my teammates more than anything. They worked incredibly hard for every point this season, and we had seniors on this team who had never experienced winning a state championship.'
