Trending Now - Mallard Creek High Appeals Disqualification Amid Controversy

WHO:

WSOC TV - Nyan Brown is a senior runner on Mallard Creek High School’s track team.

WSOC TV - Samuel Willoughby is the head coach of Mallard Creek’s track team.

WSOC TV - Bryant Bailey is the athletics director at Mallard Creek.

Yahoo Sports - Que Tucker is the commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA).

WHAT:

WSOC TV - Mallard Creek's boys' track team needed just two points to secure the state championship before the disqualification of Nyan Brown.

Daily Mail Sports - Nyan Brown's gesture of holding up five fingers was intended to signify the team's potential fifth consecutive state title.

Charlotte Observer - The NCHSAA stated that the appeal process will be reviewed by an independent appeals board appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

New York Post - Nyan Brown stated, “Anyone who has competed against me over the last 9 years knows that I have always competed with respect for the sport and respect for my opponents.”

WSOC TV - Mallard Creek's boys' track team needed to secure at least fifth place in the 4x400 relay to win the state championship.

Daily Mail Sports - Nyan Brown was disqualified for raising his hand in celebration, which officials deemed unsportsmanlike conduct.

Charlotte Observer - The disqualification cost Mallard Creek its chance at a third consecutive state championship.

Yahoo Sports - Nyan Brown stated, “I would never intentionally taunt another athlete,” expressing disappointment in the decision.

WSOC TV - Mallard Creek's boys' track team needed to finish at least fifth place to secure the state championship.

WSOC TV - Nyan Brown broke a near 20-year state record in the 300-meter hurdles during the meet.

Daily Mail Sports - The Mallard Creek boys' team ultimately finished in second place, while the Mallard Creek women's team captured their first outdoor state championship.

WSOC TV - Nyan Brown was disqualified for unsportsmanlike behavior after raising his hand at the finish line of the 4x400 race.

WSOC TV - Mallard Creek’s boys’ track team finished in second place after the disqualification.

Daily Mail Sports - The disqualification left student-athletes at Mallard Creek heartbroken.

Yahoo Sports - The NCHSAA stated that judgment decisions made by meet officials are based on the rules from the National Federation of State High School Associations.

WHERE:

WSOC TV - The incident occurred at a state track meet in North Carolina.

Yahoo Sports - Mallard Creek High School is located in Charlotte, North Carolina.

WHEN:

WSOC TV - Mallard Creek has sent a letter to the NCHSAA seeking an appeal.

WSOC TV - Mallard Creek is filing an appeal with an independent board through the State Board of Education.

WHY:

WSOC TV - Athletics director Bryant Bailey stated there is a “huge gray area” in the rule regarding unsportsmanlike conduct.

WSOC TV - The disqualification was due to a perceived unsportsmanlike conduct for celebrating too early.

WSOC TV - Coach Willoughby stated that Brown was never warned prior to the disqualification.

HOW:

Yahoo Sports - Mallard Creek has filed a grievance with the NCHSAA Board of Directors regarding the disqualification decision.

Charlotte Observer - Mallard Creek has filed an appeal with the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Yahoo Sports - Coach Willoughby emphasized that no warning was given to Brown prior to the disqualification, stating, “When they warn an athlete, they call the coach in and say, ‘The athlete did this. If it happens again, he’s disqualified.’ No warning was said to him.”

WSOC TV - The official claimed to have warned Brown after the hurdles race, but Willoughby disputed this, stating no warning was given.

Yahoo Sports - The NCHSAA commissioner acknowledged the disappointment experienced by the student-athletes, coaches, and school community involved.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 23:20 UTC)

Mallard Creek's boys' track team was just two points away from clinching the state championship when Nyan Brown was disqualified, a move that has sparked controversy. Brown, who intended to signal the team's potential fifth consecutive title by holding up five fingers, emphasized his respect for the sport and his competitors in a statement. In response to the disqualification, Mallard Creek has filed a grievance with the NCHSAA Board of Directors, and the appeal process will be reviewed by an independent board appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 16:05 UTC)

Mallard Creek's boys' track team faced a heartbreaking setback when Nyan Brown was disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct after raising his hand in celebration, costing them their chance at a third consecutive state championship. Brown expressed his disappointment, stating, “I would never intentionally taunt another athlete.” In response to the disqualification, Mallard Creek has filed an appeal with the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 08:07 UTC)

In a thrilling finish, the Mallard Creek boys' track team secured second place, while the women's team celebrated their first outdoor state championship. Nyan Brown made headlines by breaking a nearly 20-year state record in the 300-meter hurdles, but his achievement was overshadowed by a disqualification due to unsportsmanlike conduct, with Coach Willoughby noting that no warning was given before the decision. Athletics director Bryant Bailey pointed out that there is a “huge gray area” in the rules surrounding such conduct, raising questions about the fairness of the situation.

(UPDATED May 19, 2026 06:20 UTC)

Nyan Brown, a senior runner on Mallard Creek High School’s track team, was disqualified for unsportsmanlike behavior after raising his hand at the finish line of the 4x400 race during a state track meet in North Carolina, leaving his team heartbroken as they finished in second place. Coach Samuel Willoughby has stated that Brown was never warned prior to the disqualification, while the NCHSAA commissioner expressed understanding of the disappointment felt by the student-athletes and the school community. In response, Mallard Creek is filing an appeal with an independent board through the State Board of Education, seeking to overturn the decision made by meet officials based on the rules from the National Federation of State High School Associations.