Virginia High School Track Team Wrongfully Disqualified From State Championship For Harmless Behavior

Track And Field Controversy Baton Throw Disqualified Virginia High School
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The boys’ track and field program at Kettle Run High School finished 10th overall at the Virginia Class 3 championships. The Cougars might’ve recorded an even better result if not for a harmless baton toss.

I would guess the subsequent ruling and disqualification likely stems from an oversensitivity by the state after an unfortunate incident earlier in the year.

Kettle Run, which enrolls approximately 1,700 students, is located in Nokesville, Virginia— not too far outside of D.C. Head coach Jarrette Marley completely transformed its track and field program in recent years. Neither the boys nor the girls reached the regional round of postseason competition prior to his arrival. Not only did they both make the regional in 2025, they both won the regional to advance to the final at Liberty University in Lynchburg over the weekend.

Kettle Run High School Track Virginia
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Kettle Run’s girls team finished seventh in the state on the Class 3 level. The mens team finished 10th behind Fauquier, Western Albemarle, Broadway, Turner Ashby, Grafton, Pulaski County, Lafayette, Abington and William Byrd. It was impressive just to be there, let alone to place in the top 10!

However, the Cougars were robbed of a strong result in the 4×800, and thus, a stronger result overall.

Maggie Walker and Kettle Run were neck-and-neck down the back straightaway but Kettle Run’s anchor leg runner just ran out of juice at the end of a blazing fast 1:52 split. His legs gave out on him and he literally rolled across the finish line for second place. Maggie Walker was awarded the win at 7:53.68.

Not long after the Kettle Run returned to his feet, he underhand lobbed the baton onto the infield out of pure exhaustion. It was not out of frustration. It was not on the track. He did not throw the baton at someone. He did not try to cause harm. His baton toss was completely harmless. No big deal.

And yet, the judges ruled unsportsmanlike conduct. The Cougars were disqualified from the 4×800. Their second place finish was wiped off of the board. They could not appeal the judgement decision.

Rule 5, Sec. 11, Article 1n of the rulebook states: “a relay team shall be disqualified when any member of the team throws the baton following the finish of any relay.” Judges claim Kettle Run was disqualified, in part, because the runner also banged on a table (that doesn’t exist) after the baton throw.

That’s bogus!

I would imagine Virginia is extra sensitive to baton behavior. A separate, unrelated high school athlete struck an opponent in the head with a baton back in March. It became a nationwide controversy. She claims it was an accident. The video seems to show otherwise.

My hypothesis is that Kettle Run’s disqualification was collateral damage from the fallout of the last incident. The Cougars were DQ’d because of an oversensitivity. That’s my thought, at least.

Regardless of how or why the decision was made, it was the wrong one. Kettle Run finished second. It did not behave in an unsportsmanlike manner. The baton toss was not deserving of punishment.

Grayson Weir BroBible editor avatar
Senior Editor at BroBible covering all five major sports and every niche sport imaginable, found primarily in the college space. I don't drink coffee, I wake up jacked.