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Thanks to observant reader Patti Hurgen!
We have all done it. You stubb your toe, you miss a golf shot, you hit your finger with a hammer, and you use an expletive.
Well, a young pole vaulter paid the ultimate price, in my mind, this past week. Finishing third in the pole vault, the athlete let out, what sounds like a four letter word, as he missed his final attempt in the pole vault.
Officials noted that his behavior violated the State rules, as the official interpreted them. The athlete was disqualified, and his team, in losing his points, lost the high school state championship in California for track & field.
I am not sure how I feel about this. His behavior is not acceptable, however, hurting his team, his coach, his school is a bit much. They could have just stoned the kid, as this went from a learning moment to a moment of therapy.
What do you think? Tell me, please. Write me at runblogrun@gmail.com.
But, as you read this, make sure every high school and college coach in the country puts this article on their bulletin board.
Lesson of the day: Control your language.
Read the story for yourself!
Author
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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This is a complete travesty. This kid should notyhave been DQ’d for expressing her emotions. She has worked very hard to get where she is and to take away a possible CIF crown. Let the punishment fit the crime.