21-02-2025
Odd rule leaves New York track star out of State Championships
William Floyd High School (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) senior Zariel Macchia is one of the top prep runners in the country. She won't be able to compete in the New York State track championships, however, due to a technicality.
Macchia ran in a meet at Boston University this month and competed against collegiate runners. That's where the problem starts and her ability to run in the state championships ends.
Another milestone ✅Zariel Macchia of William Floyd NY moves into the all-time high school indoor top 10 list in the girls 1000m after finishing third at the BU Valentine Invitational.📸: @TweetingTrack
— DyeStat (@DyeStat) February 15, 2025
Per the New York Post:
The loophole, according to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association handbook, is that the athletes Macchia raced against were 'representing a college.' Had the same runners entered independently, Macchia would have had no violations, according to her father, Peter Macchia, who is investigating legal action and appeals ahead of the March 8 competition on Staten Island.
The Post spoke to Macchia a couple of weeks ago for a feature. She is ticketed for BYU on a track scholarship. Macchia will continue to be eligible for her spring track season, which seems to contradict her being banned from the state championships.
'My goal was to make nationals at least one time in high school, but then I made it as a freshman and realized I want to be back every year, and it worked out that way,' the William Floyd High School told The Post.
She finished third in the mile at the Millrose Games, a prestigious track event, in New York earlier this month.
Floyd High School senior Zariel Macchia is ineligible for the rest of the indoor track and field season after violating a rule that prohibits high school athletes from competing against college Jonathan Singh📝: @MikeAnderson_15
— Newsday HS sports (@NewsdayHSsports) February 20, 2025
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: New York prep track star ruled ineligible on technicality
