The Mallard Creek High School boys’ track relay team witnessed a disappointing end at the NCHSAA state championship. They were disqualified from the event for exhibiting unsportsmanlike conduct.

From initial warnings to getting disqualified at the relay event, this incident led to Mallard Creek High School losing its state championship. On May 16, the anchor runner, Nyan Brown, raised his left hand and held up five fingers for the final few seconds of the 4x400m relay to celebrate what would have been his team’s fifth consecutive state title.

However, this celebratory gesture didn’t sit right with the officials, and they called it ‘taunting’ and ‘showboating,’ which is strictly prohibited prior to crossing the finish line under the National Federation of State High School Associations rule 4-6. With this disqualification, the team received zero points for the race, stripping the high school of their overall state championship and awarding the title to Durham Jordan High School by a two-point margin.

Let’s have a look into the details of what happened during the 300m hurdles race and what the officials, the athlete, and the fans had to say about the heartbreaking incident.

Was Mallard Creek’s Nyan Brown given an initial warning during the 300m hurdles race? 

Yes, Brown received an initial warning during his performance at the 300m hurdles race at the championship. The high school track and field star produced a stellar performance at the 300m hurdles event, running an impressive 35.96 seconds and shattering an overall North Carolina state record that had stood since 2007.

During this race, Brown flexed toward media cameras after the race and received a warning for his gesture immediately after this race.

What did the officials say about Mallard Creek’s disqualification in the relay event? 

After Nyan Brown was disqualified from the 4x400m relay race and Mallard Creek dropped down to the second position, losing the state championship title, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s commissioner, Que Tucker, shared an official statement, stating that decisions made by the officials are done with full knowledge of the rules.

“Judgment decisions made by meet officials are done with the full knowledge of NFHS Track & Field Rules as well as rules and expectations of the NCHSAA relative to unsporting behavior and actions. We recognize there is deep disappointment experienced by the student-athletes, coaches, and the school community involved.”

Following this decision, Mallard Creek’s coach Samuel Willoughby revealed that they have appealed for a review and have sent the letter to NCHSAA.

“We’d love to speak with you all. We’re going to await the appeal response from the NCHSAA and hopefully we can provide an update.”

However, the NCHSAA officials told HighSchool OT that the decision won’t be altered.

“The NCHSAA considers the ruling of the official to be the final decision.”

What did Nyan Brown say about his disqualification and losing the state championship title?

Shortly after this incident, Nyan Brown took to Instagram and weighed in on the incident with a lengthy message. Mentioning the entire situation that took place, he revealed that the relay ‘deeply’ mattered to him and said that he had worked very hard for that moment. He also mentioned his teammates, writing:

“That relay mattered deeply to me because a win would have secured our team’s fifth consecutive state championship. I wanted that for my teammates more than anything. They worked incredibly hard for every point this season, and we had seniors on this team who had never experienced winning a state championship,” wrote Mallard Creek’s Nyan Brown.

He further defended himself against the taunting allegations, stating that he would never ‘intentionally’ do that and revealed that he was disappointed with the final decision.

All about the backlash that occurred after Mallard Creek’s disqualification from the 4x400m relay event 

“A High School was ROBBED of a State Championship The Mallard Creek boys track and field team was disqualified for taunting because Ngannou Brown raised his hand before crossing the line to win the 4x400m relay. THIS ISN’T TAUNTING OR UNSPORSTMANLIKE.”