Mallard Creek filed an appeal with the NCHSAA over the controversial disqualification during the high school track and field championships in North Carolina. The initial appeal has already been denied.
There is an additional process required to escalate this ruling further up the chain of command should the school choose to do so within the next five days.
In the meantime, the high school track program at Mallard Creek is forced to sit in the controversy. The Mavericks were stripped of their victory over a contradictory and hypocritical officiating decision.
Mallard Creek lost the high school track championships by disqualification.
The Class 6A Track and Field State Championships came down to the final event of the day. Jordan High School held a two-point lead over Mallard Creek High School with only the 4×400 relay left to run.
It was the Mavericks who held a sizable lead over the Falcons of Jordan on the final lap. Senior Nyan Brown took the baton for the last 400 and finished in first place by more than a full second.
Not only did he secure an individual event win, the individual event win also won the state championship for his team. The Mavericks finished with a higher overall point total than the Falcons to secure gold.
However, the result did not hold.
Mallard Creek was disqualified for “unsportsmanlike conduct” because Brown pulled back on his pace and held up his hand as he crossed the finish line. North Carolina track and field officials deemed his celebration as excessive.
According to multiple reports, Brown had already been warned for taunting after he set a state record in the 300-meter hurdles earlier that afternoon. Thus, he was subject to heightened scrutiny in the 4×400.
However, Mavericks head coach Sam Willoughby claims that his team did not receive a formal warning.
I just spoke with Mallard Creek's track coach after the DQ that cost them the state title.
— DaShawn Brown (@DaShawnWSOC9) May 18, 2026
Sam Willoughby said there is something he'd like to clarify.
"He was never warned."
Mallard Creek has since sent a letter to the NCHSAA, seeking an appeal.
The story, at 5! @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/pAO8Yiv4u8
He adamantly disagrees with the disqualification. He does not understand why Brown was punished for his celebration. Especially in such a crucial situation…
North Carolina denied an appeal despite its double standard.
Mallard Creek filed an official written appeal and grievance with the North Carolina High School Athletic Association on Monday morning. It was addressed to NCHSAA Board of Directors and Commissioner Que Tucker.
The Mavericks did not want to overturn the result. They asked to be named as co-champions.
According to Joel Bryant of HighSchoolOT, the association has already denied the appeal. It gave the following statement: “The NCHSAA considers the ruling of the official to be the final decision.”
Should Mallard Creek choose to do so, it can now file an appeal to the North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction within the next five days. Any appeal filed to the State Board of Education will be heard by an appeals board. We’ll see if the Mavericks choose to push this further. They have a legitimate case.
There are numerous photographed examples from the North Carolina track and field championships of celebrations similar to the one that led Nyan Brown to be disqualified. Some of them are even more aggressive. Hunter Bates of Weddington High School threw out his hands as he crossed the finish line. He was not punished.
That means Brown was only disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct because he received a warning that his head coach claims he did not receive. Even NFHS rules contradict the NCHSAA ruling.
“Does an athlete’s celebration rise to the level of unsporting? Actions like yelling and gesturing as a runner crosses the finish line or completes an attempt in the field events are rarely unsporting. Unless an official can identify actions as being directed at a competitor or they interfere with the conduct of a meet, a disqualification is rarely warranted.”
Mallard Creek has until Saturday to file a second appeal. Stay tuned!