{"id":365,"date":"2026-05-19T05:34:59","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T05:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=365"},"modified":"2026-05-19T05:34:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T05:34:59","slug":"nc-high-school-track-team-seeks-review-after-state-championship-disqualification-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=365","title":{"rendered":"NC high school track team seeks review after state championship disqualification"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

Mallard Creek High School sent a letter to the N.C. High School Athletic Association Board of Directors on Monday requesting review of an official\u2019s decision that cost the Mavericks a third straight state championship.<\/p>\n

Read more Leighton Ford has found room for grief, purpose and hope \u2014 right in his backyard<\/a><\/p>\n

At Saturday\u2019s N.C. 8A state championship in Greensboro, the Mavericks, trailing by two points in the final race, would seal the title with a win in the boys\u2019 1,600-meter relay.<\/p>\n

N.C. State recruit Nyan Brown, the team\u2019s star, was running the final leg.<\/p>\n

As he crossed the finish line, well out in front, Brown held up the back of his hand<\/a>, all five fingers outstretched. Mavericks coach Sam Willoughby said it was to signify three straight outdoor state titles to go with two straight indoor titles the team had won in the 2025 and \u201826 seasons.<\/p>\n

Officials disqualified Brown for the act, saying the Mavericks senior had been warned earlier for celebrating in an earlier race.<\/p>\n

Willoughby said Brown had not.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was not told, and he was not told,\u201d Willoughby told The Observer on Monday afternoon. \u201cThat became a \u2018he-say, she-say\u2019 thing. At the end, (the official) claimed she gave Nyan a warning. I kept asking her, \u2018Are you sure? Are you sure you had the right kid?\u2019 He said, \u2018Coach, she never said anything to me.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier in the day, Brown ran the fifth-fastest time in the United States this year in winning the 300-meter hurdles. The N.C. State recruit celebrated in front of a group of cameraman, his back to the other runners, and then hugged teammates and shook hands with at least one competitor.<\/p>\n

Meet officials say they gave Brown a warning for violation of a taunting rule, which seeks to prohibit \u201cany action or gesture intended to embarrass, ridicule or demean others.\u201d<\/p>\n

By this national rule, athletes are not permitted to celebrate, hold up their hands in victory or clench fists while crossing the finish line or completing a trial. Additionally, the rule says a runner must complete the activity before any celebration begins.<\/p>\n

Brown\u2019s 300-meter hurdles celebration was well after he finished the race. The second one was not.<\/p>\n

The Observer reviewed hundreds of images shot by NC MileSplit at the state finals and found dozens of athletes celebrating by raising one hand or two hands. Some pointed to the wrists. One held up three fingers to celebrate winning three state titles. Several others held their arms outstretched while looking directly at the group of camera people sitting behind the finish line that Brown did.<\/p>\n

Willoughby felt his team and his runner had been singled out.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought that was just some targeting, maybe they didn\u2019t want us to win for some reason,\u201d Willoughby said. \u201cI don\u2019t know what the reason was. When she threw the flag up as soon as he crossed the line, I knew it was on us. I was like, \u2018How can this happen.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

After the DQ flag went up, Willoughby said he ran over the official, who told him she was writing Brown up, but said it didn\u2019t mean an automatic DQ. But as a larger group of officials began to discuss the situation and the stadium went quiet \u2014 \u201cIt was dead silence,\u201d Willoughby said \u2014 the Mallard Creek coach began to fear the worst.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the back of my mind, I\u2019m like, \u2018The officials are going to stick together,\u201d he said. \u201cThey don\u2019t want to prove each other wrong. I was hopeful, but I knew deep inside.\u201d<\/p>\n

The official ruling came after about 10 minutes. The DQ stood. Mallard Creek finished second in the team totals.<\/p>\n

No 3-peat.<\/p>\n

Videos of Brown\u2019s finish, and the controversy it stirred up, got millions of views online as national sports figures and news sites shared them and wrote posts and articles.<\/p>\n

A post from former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, for example, generated more than 2.5 million views.<\/p>\n

A High School was ROBBED of a State Championship. The Mallard Creek boys track and field team was disqualified for taunting because (Nyan) Brown raised his hand before crossing the line to win the 4x400m relay. THIS ISN\u2019T TAUNTING OR UNSPORSTMANLIKE.<\/i><\/p>\n

Read more Vote for The Observer\u2019s boys\u2019 high school athlete of the week (May 22, 2026)<\/a><\/p>\n

On Sunday, NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker issued a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cJudgment decisions made by meet officials are done with the full knowledge of (the National Federation of High Schools) Track & Field Rules as well as rules and expectations of the NCHSAA relative to unsporting behavior and actions,\u201d Tucker said. \u201cWe recognize there is deep disappointment experienced by the student-athletes, coaches, and the school community involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willoughby said Brown was in disbelief after the ruling and after the meet.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018How can this happen?\u2019\u201d Willoughby said. \u201cHe said, \u2018I\u2019ve done nothing too egregious.\u2019 He\u2019s very mature for his age, so no tears, no cussing and no anger. He was just like, \u2018Oh man. What happened.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Sunday night, Brown \u2014 who was named an NCHSAA sportsmanship winner during the 2025 indoor state championship \u2014 put out a statement on Instagram.<\/p>\n

He said, in part, \u201cI would never intentionally taunt another athlete. While I am disappointed in the final decision, I believe this moment creates an opportunity for a larger conversation within track and field about allowing young athletes to celebrate major accomplishments. Celebration is part of sports, especially at championship events…. I will continue learning from this experience, and I hope conversations like this help create clearer expectations for how young athletes can express joy in meaningful moments.\u201d<\/p>\n

NCHSAA spokesperson Brandon Moree told The Observer that the association received the email from Mallard Creek. Moree added that, per its handbook, the association considers the ruling of an official to be a final decision.<\/p>\n

To file an appeal, Mallard Creek would make a formal request to the NCHSAA, which would begin and oversee the process. Ultimately, if the case moves forward, the N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction would create an independent board to review the case.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know if any change will happen,\u201d Willoughby said, \u201cbut we at least want to have a voice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monday at school, Willoughby said many of athletes stopped by his classroom to check on him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re like, \u2018Are you OK coach?\u2019\u201d Willoughby said. \u201cI\u2019m like, \u2018Nobody died. It just sports, man, you know?\u2019 They\u2019re looking out for me and my well-being like I was wronged. But they\u2019re such a family, man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Four years ago, Mallard Creek lost a conference tournament championship because of one of its best sprinters received a DQ for getting involved in an altercation with some rival competitors in the stands.<\/p>\n

That runner was dismissed from the team, which hurt the Maverick\u2019s 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter relay teams. At the state meet, a few weeks later, the Mavericks didn\u2019t have a top 15 finisher in either sprint race and finished fourth in the 400-meter relay.<\/p>\n

A team that was trending towards being a state title favorite finished 16th in the team totals.<\/p>\n

The next season, Mallard Creek finished runner-up in the state finals. In the 2024 and \u201825 seasons, the Mavericks won the title.<\/p>\n

Willoughby sees no reason why his team won\u2019t have a similar bounce-back next year \u2014 no matter what happens with an appeal.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just in disbelief about what happened, but I\u2019m not angry,\u201d Willoughby said. \u201cOur boys know what they did. They know they\u2019re the champs. Having a trophy doesn\u2019t validate our greatness. And as for next year, (winning state) is the plan. As long as I keep the same coaching staff, we\u2019ve always got a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Vote for The Observer\u2019s girls\u2019 high school athlete of the week (May 22, 2026)<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 4:52 PM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mallard Creek High School of Charlotte NC track team requests review after Nyan Brown disqualified for a gesture after relay. NC track DQ video, photos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":357,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-read-todays-edition"],"yoast_head":"\nNC high school track team seeks review after state championship disqualification - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/charlotterelocationguide.com\/?p=365\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC high school track team seeks review after state championship disqualification - \u0421harlotte Relocation Guide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Mallard Creek High School of Charlotte NC track team requests review after Nyan Brown disqualified for a gesture after relay. 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