The Columbus High boys 4 x 100-meter relay team was disqualified after Derrick Hayes, the team's anchor, pointed upward as he crossed the finish line. "He put his hand by his ear and just pointed at the heavens," KC Hayes, Derrick's father, told KHOU News of Houston.
The University Interscholastic League has said the gesture is a violation of one of the rules put in place by the federation that states any over-the-top or excessive celebrating will result in disqualification of the team.
This ban prevents the team of four from advancing into the state meet later this month. The UIL's ruling is being criticized and is said to be a violation of religous freedom. Many have complained but the ban seems to be final.
"You cross a finish line and you've accomplished a goal, and within seconds it's gone," KC Hayes said. "To see four kids, you know, what does that tell them about the rest of their lives? You're going to do what's right, work extra hard, and have it ripped away from you?"
Columbus ISD Superintendent Robert O'Connor said the team had won the race by seven yards. It was their fastest race of the year.
"I don't think that the situation was technically a terrible scenario as far as his action, but the action did violate the context of the rule," Supt. O'Connor said.
When asked about the incident, and told it was against policy to use any handed gestures in celebration, Local resident Steve Williams said, "Well then it's not a good policy."
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