North Carolina Runner Wins His State Title Back After Celebration DQ

A North Carolina high school runner who was stripped of his team’s state championship for raising five fingers as he crossed the finish line has had the disqualification overturned, restoring Mallard Creek High School’s place on the podium.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association ruled Tuesday that the Mallard Creek boys’ track team will be recognized as Class 8A co-state champions, and also as co-winners of the 4×400-meter relay race in which sprinter Nyan Brown was originally disqualified. The reversal followed a hearing last week before the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Interscholastic Appeals Board, which sided with the school, according to the Associated Press.

What the runner did at the finish line

Brown anchored the 4×400 relay that clinched Mallard Creek’s team title at this spring’s state championship meet. As he crossed the line first, he extended his hand with all five fingers raised. According to Brown and his coach, the gesture was meant to signify five straight track titles for Mallard Creek, covering the past three outdoor seasons and the past two indoor seasons.

A race official disqualified him on the spot, citing an unsportsmanlike celebration. The official said Brown had already been warned earlier in the meet for a previous postrace celebration. Mallard Creek athletes and coaches said they had no knowledge of any such warning, and that dispute became central to the school’s appeal.

The disqualification cost Mallard Creek the relay race and, by extension, the team championship, which was instead awarded to C.E. Jordan High School. Hough High School was given the relay victory. The case echoed a recent moment that runners might remember well: Canadian sprinter Michael Roth was disqualified at the AAC Outdoor Championships for a similar celebration gesture before crossing the line.

How the appeal played out

Mallard Creek took the case to the state’s Interscholastic Appeals Board, which held hearings last week. After the board ruled in the school’s favor, the NCHSAA called an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

The association recognized Mallard Creek’s victories in both the relay and the overall team standings, but it did not strip the results that had been awarded on race day. As a result, Mallard Creek and C.E. Jordan will share the Class 8A team title, and Mallard Creek and Hough will share the relay win.

Mallard Creek principal Jared Thompson praised the appeals board and NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker in a statement released after the ruling.

“We are grateful for the decision,” Thompson said, thanking the panelists and Tucker “for their thoughtful deliberation, professionalism, and commitment to ensuring a fair and principled outcome.”

Thompson also thanked individuals and organizations from across the country “who offered their support to Mallard Creek High School during this process.”

A case that drew national attention

The disqualification drew sharp criticism from coaches, parents, and writers covering high school sports. ESPN columnist Dan Wetzel argued that state officials should reverse what he called a “dicey DQ,” and the story circulated widely on social media in the weeks before the ruling. It joined a small but growing list of high-profile disqualifications that have left runners and coaches questioning the calls, including a Bolder Boulder champion who was disqualified two hours after crossing the line first.

Tucker, the NCHSAA commissioner, acknowledged the toll the dispute had taken on everyone involved.

“We recognize that this situation has been emotional for the student-athletes, coaches, schools and communities involved,” 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.”

For runners at every level, from the high schoolers training on local tracks to athletes chasing their first sub-4-minute mile, the ruling is a reminder of how thin the line between celebration and penalty can be. If you’re looking to put in your own work this season, our guides to track workouts that build speed, essential drills for runners, and finding a running track near you are a good place to start.