In Mallard Creek HS track controversy, we finally have a common-sense decision
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mallard Creek won its appeal of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in men’s track.
- NCHSAA convened a special meeting, declared Mallard Creek and Jordan 8A co-champions.
- Mallard Creek had received no points for the 4x400 relay because of the now-overturned DQ.
Sometimes, common sense prevails — even in high school sports.
Such was the case Tuesday, as the boys’ track team from Mallard Creek won its appeal of a controversial officiating call at the North Carolina 8A state championship on May 16 and now has been declared state co-champions along with the original winner, Durham Jordan.
I was glad to see this appeal succeed. Mallard Creek had been penalized by a bogus disqualification and robbed of a state title, and that wrong needed to be righted. It shouldn’t have taken two weeks to decide, but at least everyone arrived at the correct answer.
To review: Nyan Brown, Mallard Creek’s star athlete and an N.C. State recruit, was running the anchor leg on the 4x400-meter relay on May 16 in the final event of the 8A state championship in Greensboro.
Just a few steps from winning, Brown raised his left hand and displayed five fingers. This was a signal, Mallard Creek’s coach would say later, to show that the Mavericks were about to win their fifth straight state championship (including indoor titles).
For that gesture, Brown was disqualified by an overzealous track official, who interpreted his gesture as taunting.
In my view, it was a celebration, yes — but one so mild that a high school player who makes a 3-point shot in the second quarter of a basketball game usually makes more of a big deal out of it.
But taunting that was worthy of a penalty? I’ve seen it hundreds of times, at all levels of sport. That wasn’t it.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction agreed.
In a statement Tuesday, the NCDPI said in part: “The appeals panel concluded that Mallard Creek had presented clear and convincing evidence that the student-athlete did not engage in unsporting or unacceptable conduct…. As a result, the panel has vacated the penalty of unsportsmanlike conduct and remanded the matter back to the NCHSAA for further proceedings consistent with that decision.”
NCHSAA holds special meeting
The NCHSAA convened a special meeting Tuesday to consider the matter and voted to declare Mallard Creek and Jordan as co-champions. This is what I have advocated for all along — there was precedent for it in previous NCHSAA decisions, and you shouldn’t penalize Jordan, which did nothing wrong.
A little more background: Mallard Creek received zero points for the relay event because of the DQ, rather than the 10 it would have gotten for a relay victory. Instead of winning by eight points, the Mavericks finished second by two points in the meet, to Jordan. (now that the appeal has changed this, Mallard Creek also was declared co-champion of the 4x400 individual event, with Hough High).
The video of Brown’s final few steps of the event — and his disbelief after being DQed — was viewed millions of times. For a day or two, it seemed to be everywhere on social media — with the track official often being criticized for DQ-ing such a moderate celebration but also sometimes being praised for upholding the letter of the law.
The official said at the time Brown had been previously warned during the meet after winning while posting one of the best national times of the year in the 300 hurdles. Brown’s coach disagreed, saying no warning had been issued.
“I was not told, and he was not told,” Mallard Creek track coach Sam Willoughby told The Observer at the time.
The Observer, meanwhile, reviewed hundreds of photos taken by NC MileSplit at the track finals in all classifications and found dozens of athletes celebrating by raising one hand or two hands, either pointing to their wrists or holding their arms outstretched. The lack of consistency in the punishments (or lack thereof) was jarring, and also appeared to give Mallard Creek more ammunition for its appeals process with the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.
‘I would never... taunt another athlete’
Brown — who was named an NCHSAA sportsmanship winner during the 2025 indoor state championship — put out a statement on Instagram the day after the controversial meet.
He said, in part: “I 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.”
So now, the decision is final and we have some consensus.
Mallard Creek and Jordan can share the title, and we all can share a moment where the right thing ended up being done.
