Lawrence Central senior Aniyah McKenzie cleared to run 100m at state after DQ is overturned
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The reaction was utter disbelief when Lawrence Central senior Aniyah McKenzie was disqualified in the 100-meter dash at the girls track regional meet at Greenfield-Central on Tuesday.
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After she placed first in the 100 prelims, McKenzie got stationed at the start line for the finals. In what was originally called a false start, the track officials said McKenzie was not properly set on her blocks – a call that was argued by Lawrence Central coaches and those who had a clear view of the action.
That DQ barred her from competing in the 100 finals and cost her a spot at the state track meet. But by Wednesday, that controversial call was overturned, and McKenzie was granted a spot at state in the 100 meters.
“We were trying to make sure before any scratches were made or any of the final calls for the state meet were published that we had done everything that we could do push this forward and keep the conversation going because we weren’t going to sit on our hands and let it go last night,” Lawrence Central coach Chandler Ball told the IndyStar. “Last night all the way until the early morning, as long as I could stay awake, I was formulating an email and looking at the NFHS rulebook and analyzing the rules and what they state to double check the officials standing.
“We found a rule in the rulebook that stated that if they’re not fully set in the blocks, that they are given a re-run and since she was never afforded that re-run last night, we were contacted this morning about her getting pushed to the state final … She was definitely upset yesterday, and it was definitely not what she wanted so this news was obviously extremely incredible for her.”
After her DQ, McKenzie ran second leg for the Bears’ winning 4x100-meter relay team. The handoff to McKenzie was nearly disastrous but she didn’t panic. She secured the baton and exploded down the track – a reflection of the challenges she had to overcome at regionals.
The 6-foot sprinter then placed first in the 200-meter dash. McKenzie was ranked third in the state in the 100-meter dash entering sectionals and will now get the opportunity to showcase her talents at state in three events.
“I think that this is a huge boost to her morale as a track athlete and as an athlete as a whole,” Ball said. “Being able to compete in all three events, which she’s been a leader in almost every meet that we’ve had this season and potentially giving her an opportunity to get a triple crown at the biggest stage that our state has to offer. Huge testament to all that she’s worked for and all that she’s provided to us and our team from an individual standpoint and as a teammate.”
McKenzie was initially hurt by the fact that she was DQ’d from the 100 finals. But she handled business in the face of adversity. She stayed true to her character and was unshaken by the disaster of potentially missing the 100-meter field at state.
“Still to take all of that in stride and to win those events and give us great seeding for the state meet was huge,” Ball said. “On the way home … she’s on the bus just rallying the girls and having a great time and kind of being her normal self even though she every reason to be upset, every reason to be down on herself. I’m definitely going to miss her when she’s gone and fully graduated.”
Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at [email protected] , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Lawrence Central's Aniyah McKenzie cleared for state 100m after DQ