Mallard Creek wins appeal after taunting call costs team state championship

The Mallard Creek High School boys’ track team and Jordan High School have been officially named co-state champions by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. This final decision comes weeks after an initial penalty for unsportsmanlike behavior had cost Mallard Creek the title.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: State athletic association stands by decision to disqualify runner

The reversal follows an earlier ruling that disqualified Mallard Creek, resulting in Jordan High School, who had finished second, being named the sole winner. Mallard Creek subsequently appealed the initial penalty.

Senior Nyan Brown, a member of the Mallard Creek team, was initially disqualified for making a gesture as he crossed the finish line. This disqualification led to the championship being awarded solely to Jordan High School. An independent appeals board later reviewed the penalty for Brown’s gesture. The board determined that the gesture did not warrant the penalty, leading to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association naming both Mallard Creek and Jordan as co-champions.

>>LINK: Mallard Creek High School fundraiser campaign for boys’ track and field championship rings

Following a decision by the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board administered by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors convened in a special meeting on Tuesday morning to consider the matter involving the conclusion of the 2026 8A Men’s Track and Field State Championship.

The Appeals Board vacated the disqualification from the 4×400 relay. After review and discussion, the NCHSAA Board of Directors voted to declare Mallard Creek High School and C.E. Jordan High School as co-champions of the 2026 NCHSAA 8A Men’s Track and Field State Championship. The Board also voted to recognize Mallard Creek High School and Hough High School as co-champions in the men’s 4×400-meter relay.

The NCHSAA appreciates the work of the Independent Interscholastic Athletic Appeals Board and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction throughout this process. The Association thanks the student-athletes, coaches, school administrators, officials, and member schools involved, including Mallard Creek High School, for using the appeals process provided under state law and NCHSAA policy. That process is designed to promote fairness by enabling informed review of officiating decisions that result in disqualification or suspension.