Samuel Willoughby felt confident about the day’s final event. Mallard Creek High School only needed two points in the boys 4×400 relay to capture another state title, the program’s fifth straight between indoor and outdoor competition. The winner earned 10 points, and the Mavericks were the favorite to win the event.Willoughby, who coaches track for Mallard Creek, was sitting in the first row of Marcus T. Johnson Track in Greensboro, N.C., and instructed his team to gather around him just off the track to celebrate the likely Class 8A boys title after the girls team had clinched its first state title earlier in the day.As anchor Nyan Brown neared the finish line, he held up five fingers on his left hand, signaling his team’s fifth championship. He held it up for the final 2-3 seconds of the race.“They didn’t like that,” Willoughby said.As soon as Brown crossed the finish line, an official held up a yellow flag in front of Brown’s face, walking past him without making eye contact. He was disqualified for celebrating before the end of the race, ruled as unsportsmanlike conduct.As a result, the Mavericks earned zero points from the event and lost the title to Jordan High.
Mallard Creek boys track and field was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct after winning the 4×400 relay in the final event of the day. Had the result stayed, the Mavericks would have won the team state championship. Instead, they remained in second place.
