Another week, another controversial high school disqualification over a runner’s post-race actions. At the Virginia Class 3 State Championships held at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., this past weekend, Kettle Run High School middle-distance runner Owen Mullins went head-to-head with Maggie Walker High School’s Colston Wisotzki in the final metres of the boys’ 4x800m relay.
As Mullins strained toward the finish line, he stumbled and fell just as Wisotzki surged past on the outside to secure the win. In frustration over losing the state title in his final strides, Mullins underhand-tossed the baton toward the infield—a move that led to the disqualification of Kettle Run’s 4x800m relay team from the podium.
This got my 4×8 DQ’d for unsportsmanship conduct- he tossed the baton. Not angrily, not maliciously, just because he was tired after a 1:52 split. And not even something we could appeal because it was a judgment decision. We have got to do better in this sport pic.twitter.com/9WcEuYNsiu
— Coach Marley (@Coach_JMarley) June 7, 2025
“This got my 4×800 team DQ’d for unsportsmanlike conduct—he tossed the baton,” Kettle Run head coach Jarrette Marley wrote in a caption on a video shared to social media. “Not angrily, not maliciously, just because he was tired after a 1:52 split. And not even something we could appeal, because it was a judgment decision. We have got to do better in this sport.”
According to the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Rule 5, Section 11, a relay team must be disqualified if any member throws the baton after finishing the race. While the rule is designed to curb unsportsmanlike conduct, its enforcement in this instance has sparked some debate online.
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“Bad call, let the kids run,” one commenter posted on X. Another replied, “Every track coach and athlete knows you can’t throw the baton for any reason.”
The controversy hinges on interpretation: while the rule explicitly forbids throwing the baton, Coach Marley argues that Mullins neither hurled it in anger nor hit anyone, and that his gesture lacked the emotion typically associated with unsportsmanlike behaviour.
On June 9, Marley sent a letter to the Virginia High School League (VHSL) challenging the decision. “Watching the video alone, which I didn’t have access to at the time of the appeal, just further shows how ridiculous the DQ was,” he wrote on X. “If essentially dropping your baton or handing it to your teammate is a DQ, bless us.”
The disqualification had a significant impact on team standings: instead of finishing fourth overall, Kettle Run’s boys’ team placed 10th in the state.
