**********NCHSAA Board of Directors held a surprise emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss the Interscholastic Athletics Independent Appeals Board’s decision in the Mallard Creek track DQ case.**********
from www.nchsaa.org:
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NCHSAA Announces Resolution Following Independent Review of 8A Men’s Track and Field Championship
NCHSAA Announces Resolution Following Independent Review of 8A Men’s Track and Field Championship
CHAPEL HILL — Following a decision by the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors convened in a special meeting on Tuesday morning to consider the matter involving the conclusion of the 2026 8A Men’s Track and Field State Championship.
The Appeals Board vacated the disqualification from the 4×400 relay. After review and discussion, the NCHSAA Board of Directors voted to declare Mallard Creek High School and C.E. Jordan High School as co-champions of the 2026 NCHSAA 8A Men’s Track and Field State Championship. The Board also voted to recognize Mallard Creek High School and Hough High School as co-champions in the men’s 4×400-meter relay.
The NCHSAA appreciates the work of the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction throughout this process. The Association thanks the student-athletes, coaches, school administrators, officials, and member schools involved, including Mallard Creek High School, for using the appeals process provided under state law and NCHSAA policy. That process is designed to promote fairness by enabling informed review of officiating decisions that result in disqualification or suspension.
“We recognize that this situation has been emotional for the student-athletes, coaches, schools, and communities involved,” said NCHSAA Commissioner Que Tucker. “At the center of this matter are young people who have invested countless hours into their sport and their team. We appreciate the work of the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board and respect the process that led to today’s outcome. We are pleased that this matter has reached a resolution and that the accomplishments of the student-athletes involved can be recognized.”
The NCHSAA remains committed to fair competition, sportsmanship, and the educational mission of interscholastic athletics. The Association recognizes the efforts of all those who participated in the review process.
This decision is wrong. If I were the official who made the call I would not feel backed up or inclined to enforce any of the rules. The rule is the rule and you can’t violate the rule when the event is important. The kid was even warned earlier about this. The word privilege is thrown around quite a bit in other situations does it not apply here? In the days of NIL and no punishment for bad behavior this reinforces the bad message being sent to our young people.
The rule is the rule and you can’t violate the rule when the event is important. The kid was even warned earlier about this.
“The rules are the rules and the kid broke the rules and his team backed him up. This is wrong.”
The kid and his team should both have been kicked out of the meet. Time to stop all of this bending the rules stuff. No matter if you are green, red, yellow, black, or white. It is not right, and you are not teaching kids a dang thing if you don’t enforce the rules.
Stop giving in and trying to make everybody feel happy.
The kid was warned. Is nobody listening or paying attention these days? What are we teaching here?