When injustice impedes a dream

Editor’s Comments, “This article will also have social media commentary from Nick Miller, Atlanta’s Head Track Coach, and Atlanta Athletic Booster Club President, Dr. Trevor Swanson, D.C., who witnessed first-hand the injustice set against the Atlanta boys’ track team in both the 4x2 and 4x4 relay events with an opportunity to make it to state. Photo footage was obtained as well.”

Injustice is defined as, “lack of fairness or an unjust act or occurrence”.

Aside from the obvious confusion, there was a lack of fairness and an unjust act levied against Atlanta’s boys’ track program at the Regional track meet in Whitehouse on April 29.

Not just once but twice. As the days passed more was added to the story against Atlanta. The bizarre part is that each person with a story to tell had different versions. None of them matched the other.

Atlanta had so many questions and deserved solid answers.

In a nutshell, the story involves an official being on the track in both races and a judge coming out of the stands, which blocks a part of the track, to say Atlanta had committed infractions.

It’s apparent Whitehouse ISD added stands behind its north endzone for extra seating during football season, but it’s a horrible blind spot during a track meet.

When it was all said and done both Atlanta’s 4x2 and 4x4 relay teams were disqualified. This hurt in several ways.

Head Coach Nick Miller had this to say, “In 2018 Atlanta had the best 4x200 in the state (4A). We ran out of the zone and we’re DQ’d. Disappointing but acceptable. Last year the same, state beat 4x200. We believed we were interfered with and dropped the stick. I protested and the ruling was upheld. Disappointing but I accepted it. This year is unacceptable because nothing is consistent and every time, they try to back up their ruling, their story changes and rule book wasn’t followed. Not acceptable.”

“The rule book says the UIL won’t overturn calls. I’m okay with that if rules in that rule book were followed to begin with,” Miller added. “If they weren’t, well the rule book apparently doesn’t matter.”

Atlanta was a viable threat to win both events at the State meet along with the already qualified 4x1 relay team.

Atlanta had the fastest 3A times in the state in all three relays and a state championship was not out of reach.

Coach Miller shared his insight on Facebook: One of my questions was how one judge could see all those lanes from where she was. Our region’s response was they had four lane violation judges. Okay, so what do you say when eyewitnesses from other schools come forward and say “there were three”? Disappointed… UNTIL they continue to say that two of them showed up AFTER the 4x200m relay disqualification.

Wait so there WAS only one there during 4x200? Interesting.

Let me also mention that the reasons for being DQ’d were changed constantly during the meet and they still are. It was two steps. Then three, then five, then two out one in. One official says bumping, one official says first leg. The final ruling told to me is second leg out of lane on final curve. Post meet meeting with Regional Meet Director it’s first leg. Reported to the UIL is second leg. I can’t keep up.

The red flag, the red flag we never saw that is required to be shown when a violation occurs. Immediately. The reason for this? So, there is no time for outside factors, such as race results, to affect a decision? If this argument comes up, the head official at the finish line will rule if there was a violation. Please note that he should have a clear line of sight of all officials to make this judgement.

Well, those Whitehouse stands pose a problem. Imagine winning a football game, like we won the 4x200, and after the game you find out you lost. You ask why? The head official says, “Well, your running back stepped out of bounds in the third quarter. We didn’t throw a flag, but it happened, sorry.”

Now, let’s talk about reversing decisions. When the triple jumps results were announced Atlanta’s jumper was third. We all knew he was fourth. Third got him a chance at the wild card AND competing in state. But we knew he got fourth.

The official running off the triple jump, writing those results, and later making DQs as a lone curve judge, was the one who sent those. What do we do? Go to the press box and get them REVERSED? Why? Because it’s the right thing to do!

Yeah, yeah, the UIL doesn’t reverse calls, no recourse for judgement calls, but is what I’m saying above not constituting something different?

Lastly, that NFHS track and field rule book has been really popular over the past few days.

Sometimes hard to interpret, so you better be sure when you make a lane violation call that, as the rule states, it is DELIBERATE, GIVES AN ADVANTAGE, or SHORTENS the race. If it’s two out and in (as one of the four variations I received when asked), looks like that’s not deliberate, and didn’t shorten the race. I’m not being funny, but we ran 1:26.44 seconds in the 4x200. Over one and a half seconds better than the best state qualifying relay. We didn’t need an unfair advantage.

This was the insight of Dr. Swanson: This is being written to inform you of events that happened at the Regional track meet in Whitehouse on April 29. Going into the meet Atlanta had the fastest 3A times in the state for the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 meter Relays. In the 4x200 they were .13 seconds away from a new state record. This is what makes the following events so atrocious.

First it started with the 4x200 where Atlanta was disqualified for stepping on the lines in their lane.

Rule says they get up to three steps out before DQ. So, when the first report came in the officials said that our second leg stepped out three times and would be DQ. Then it was changed to five times.

Note that that where this took place was behind the bleachers on part of the track that is out of view from any cameras or spectators; and when questioned it suddenly changed to five steps out. Also, the curve official never threw up a red flag which marks an infraction.

Apparently an official in the stands made the call that he stepped out.

Now the 4x400 began with a runner crossing the line after a handoff and crossed back into the first lane which interfered with our third leg receiving his handoff. Then in the final handoff an official was standing in lane three and due to it being a close race all room was needed for exchanges.

This made our fourth leg run around the official into lane 4/5 to get around him. Due to these two interferences, it created a close race down the stretch. Three guys were running within a foot of each other and two of them bumped into each other.

This resulted in both being disqualified. Now if that was not bad enough, the first reports were they stepped out of their lane resulting in DQ and then it was that they bumped each other. After more than 30 minutes they finally informed the coaches of what had happened. Strange that it took that long for reasons to come out.

Just to note if the interference would not have occurred with our runner, everyone knows it would have not been such a close competition (due to our previous times) that any bumping would have not occurred. Also note that the bumping did not affect any other teams other than the second and third finishers.

The final ruling for the DQ in the 4x4 second leg ran out of his lane in the same back curve behind bleachers. Which means it had to be inside his lane.

There were cones staggered every five meters. Not one cone was Disturbed. 192 relay participants yesterday and Atlanta received two of the three DQs all made by the same official, in the same spot on the track 3/192.

This is the same official that sent the wrong triple jump results to the press box that coaches had to correct. Also, I would like to mention officials came by our staff laughing begging to tell Atlanta the verdict.

Because of this Atlanta track team was denied the Regional championship, participation at state in the 4x200 and the 4x400 (which almost certainly would have placed 1st in the 4x200) and ultimately cost their team a possible State Championship. Athletes were robbed of their opportunities from what turned out to be a horrendous ruling. We have appealed the decision, however from all indication so far, the ruling will stand.

The unjust occurrence set against these kids who have trained countless hours and have pushed through the pain to get to that point is reprehensible.

Not having a straightforward answer to feed a heavily discouraged group of kids and a coach who pours limitless amounts of love and compassion on his athletes is inexcusable.

We were unable to get comments from the UIL and in the end the outrageous claims against Atlanta stood even after Atlanta Superintendent Jason Harris and others traveled to Austin to make a case for the Runnin’ Rabbs.

Coach Miller had this to say as well, “There will be no reversal of the decision at Regionals. Having said that, let me say thank you to the UIL for agreeing to meet as well listening to our issues. Thank you to Jason Harris who traveled to Austin to attend that meeting. Lastly, a thank you to our community and all of those who stood up for our athletes. This is as far as I’ve ever seen an issue go, and that’s because of all of those listed above.”

“Going forward, what needs to be focused on are those who are going to the State track meet. Our boys must dig down and put this behind them and go after the state record in the 4x100 that is within reach. Stacy Darty in the 300m hurdles and triple jump. And our Lady Rabbs,” Coach Miller continued. “When I accepted the job to coach them, my goal was to get them to State and they have TWO relays going. These athletes need our support and have a job to do. It’s a great honor to compete at the State track meet and it’s something most kids only dream of. I’m proud of my athletes and this community, and the season isn’t over just yet. Thank you all again.”