Viral, controversial high school track and field DQ overturned

The controversial disqualification of Mallard Creek High School at the NCHSAA 8A Track and Field State Championships on May 16 has been reversed.

While a specific state's track and field state championships tend to fly under the radar on the national scale, this year's event ended in controversy and went viral.

In a video posted by the High School OT account on X, Nyan Brown, a Mallard Creek boys' track and field team member, was seen finishing the 4x400 relay.

When he was nearing the finish line, he lifted his arm with his hand facing away from him. It appeared he had won, but he was disqualified at the finish line for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The video went viral on social media because nobody could believe that such a small act, near the finish line, would be considered unsportsmanlike conduct or taunting.

After the event loss in the state championships, Mallard Creek High School filed an appeal with the NCHSAA board of directors and commissioner Que Tucker, per USA Today.

The appeal was heard by a three-member Independent Interscholastic Athletics Appeals Board run by the N.C. State Board of Education. After two hours of meeting, hearing statements and reviewing evidence from both the NCHSAA and Mallard Creek officials, a reversal was issued.

"[Mallard Creek] had presented clear and convincing evidence that the student-athlete did not engage in unsporting or unacceptable conduct as defined in the track and field competition rules of the National Federation of State High School Associations.

As a result, Mallard Creek will become co-state champions in the event and an overall co-state champion in track and field with C.E. Jordan High School.

Tucker discussed the decision.

"At the center of the matter are young people who have invested countless hours into their sport and their team.

“We appreciate the work of the Independent Interscholastic 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."

Brown will now turn his attention to running for North Carolina State University next season.