Rocky mountain’s top 2 runners DQ’d at districts for holding hands across the finish line

Wow that's really dumb that they got DQ'd. I hope there is more to this story that might make it less stupid.

Overzealous officials who’ve got nothing going on in there lives but enforcing dumb rules strike again.

Yea, let's just ignore the rule book and be kind, as these guys didn't know the rules, so they shouldn't be punished. You know, they live in Colorado.

You don't like the rule, get it changed. National HS rules are updated annually.

What rule caused the DQ? Contact?

Funny. Look it up, not allowed to hold hands crossing the finish line. It may be considered a "dumb" rule, but if you only pick and choose which rules to apply, why bother having any rule book for the sport in the first place.

If they don’t go to state, this is a “the team just lost state” level dq. Yikes.

Big difference. Did you even look at the photo of the runners holding hands? It was SEVEN people stretched across the entire width of the street! There is no excuse for that garbage. They were impeding all runners directly behind them. I don't think they should have been DQ'ed but they certainly should have received some sort of ban from Boston, maybe two years. Teach them a lesson.

As for the HS runners in Colorado, well, play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Like another poster stated, it is in the rules book. If you don't like the rule, petition the NFHS to have it changed. I've seen enough people DQ'ed for ridiculous uniform rules but it is entirely the fault of the athlete and his/her coach. It only takes a second to look at your runners before they head to the line to make sure they don't have a uniform violation.

They don't live in colorado, Colorado doesn't have district meets.

Okay, mom. They were slow runners along with all the other slow runners. No one around them is going to be winning the race. Such joggers are the ones mixed in with those wearing costumes running around making noises trying to see who can make the biggest fool of themselves. No one cares about their times.

Like most everything, the problem here is not the offenders or the enforcers, but the insane and ever expanding set of rules

Couldn’t find an official “Idaho Track and Field Rule book” all information I have found says NFHS rules are the rules.

Most recent NFHS rule book I could find is 2015. States in Rule 5 Section 9 titled “Infraction for all races”: “interference is any action by a competitor that unfairly changes the course or natural running rhythm of a competitor during a race. This may include bumping, tripping or running across the competitor’s path.”

Is the action of 2 athletes voluntarily holding hands slowing each other down in the process unfair? Seems fair to me.

Making contact with, and clasping the hand of, your teammate is considered to be aiding. You cannot aid another runner. By clasping each others hands, they aided each other.

Is it against the rules? Absolutely. Should they have been disqualified? Yes, technically they should have. Were there other options short of disqualifying them? Yes. But meet officials aren’t required to be lenient, nor are they required to warn kids or educate them about it. That’s on the coaches to do. I remember my coach in HS telling us exactly this- do not grab hands. You will get DQ’d.

The rule you are looking for is rule 4-6-7. It clearly states that grasping hands with a teammate is an immediate DQ.

Thanks for clearing that up. Couldn’t find anything specific in rules and the one I found was closest thing. I happened to not have read that section.

Rule 4-6-7 says:

It is an unfair act when a competitor receives any assistance. Assistance includes competitors joining or grasping hands with each other during a race.

I think that is an overly strict interpretation to disqualify 2 runners because they grasp hands a few feet before the finish line -- particularly since this disqualifies them from running at the state meet. It was obvious that they were not assisting each other.

Run the race through the finish, THEN hold hands with teammates after if that's your kumbaya thing. What's next, kneeling at the starting line? Raised fists and gang hand signs on the podium? Officials should enforce this to the letter of the law, they shouldn't be required or expected to interpret the intent behind handholding during a competition.

Holding hands is usually an attempt to tie. Which should be a DQ. Despite the pearl clutching here.