Indiana's top distance runner won't have a chance to earn an Indiana High School Athletic Association Championship in the 3200m after he was DQ'ed at the West Lafayette Regional.
Hamilton Southeastern (IN) High junior Gabe Fendel, a Foot Locker Nationals and NXN Nationals qualifier who owns a US No. 10 time in the 3200m (8:50.56) and US No. 14 mark in the 1600m (4:09.84), instead will only run in the 1600m.
Fendel has yet to win an IHSAA title.
It marked a continuation of a weird period for Fendel, who was suspended by the IHSAA in April after running the 3200m at Arcadia Invitational in California -- the time was the fifth fastest in Indiana history -- and then reinstated the same afternoon.
At the time, the IHSAA maintained that since Arcadia was a school-sponsored event it was prohibited by Indiana's bylaws, the Indy Star reported.
IHSAA commissioner Bobby Cox, in an e-mail, said the suspension came because Arcadia is a school-sponsored event and that bylaws prohibit entry in such a meet. If Arcadia were not school-sponsored -- as is in national championships in track and swimming -- there is no prohibition and waivers may be granted.
"The track and field coaching community continues to ignore their own rules; therefore, a penalty is established now that the IHSAA knows this is a school-sponsored event," Cox initially said in an e-mail.
But the IHSAA softened its stance almost immediately and lifted the suspension -- including two others that were placed on Indiana runners who competed at Arcadia.
On Thursday, Fendel was DQ'ed in arguably his best race.
It's a disappointing development for one of the state's best. But Fendel does have an opportunity to win his first state championship in the 1600m.
