Home / Sports / Disqualification Reversed: State Title Reinstated
Disqualification Reversed: State Title Reinstated
3 Jun
Summary
- Athlete's championship win was overturned due to on-field celebration.
- North Carolina High School Athletic Association reversed the disqualification.
- The team is now recognized as co-state champions after appeal.
A high school track athlete's disqualification for a celebratory gesture after crossing the finish line has been overturned. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) ruled on Tuesday that Mallard Creek High School's boys' track team will be recognized as class 8A co-state champions.
The ruling also reinstated the team's victory in the pivotal 4x400-meter relay race. An official had cited athlete Nyan Brown for raising his hand with five fingers as he finished, a gesture reportedly meant to signify five consecutive titles for the school.
Mallard Creek appealed the disqualification to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Interscholastic Appeals Board. Following the board's favorable decision, the NCHSAA held an emergency meeting to address the matter.
As a result of the appeal, C.E. Jordan High School will now share the overall state title, and Hough High School will share the relay race victory. The NCHSAA noted the emotional nature of the situation for all involved student-athletes and communities.
