* Aedan Rendek has qualified for the regional 3,200m race, but he is appealing for his inclusion in the 1,600m, a race he was involuntarily scratched from during his district competition
Photo Credit: Dave Tibbetts/Flrunners
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The Viera High School track and field coach who was embroiled in controversy this week after scratching a runner from his District Championship race was fired by the school district, the Brevard Public Schools chief strategic communications officer Russell Bruhn told Florida Today on Monday.
The controversy began on Thursday when Viera head coach Kerron Greaves approached the starting line of the 1,600m at Harmony High School, during the FHSAA District 4A-10 Championships, and asked for his runner, Aedan Rendek, to be scratched from the race.
Rendek, who had won the 3,200m earlier and finished 10th in the 800m, was aiming to qualify for the regional championships in the 1,600m, his preferred event. The high school senior, however, ran slower in his 800m heat, missing the podium and failing to score in the event.
Arguing is seen over video between Greaves and the head girls track coach before Rendek, a Butler University recruit, ran under protest.
He eventually finished second in a time of 4:37, which would have qualified him for regionals. He had entered as a state-qualifying candidate.
He was later taken off the official results and the scratch stood.
Rendek was a top 20 finisher at the FHSAA Class 4A Cross Country Championships in November and had run a PR of 15:40.60 this past fall. Florida Today made him an All-Space County runner that same season.
His outdoor times had him among the top runners in the state. Rendek was ranked No. 17 in Florida in the 3,200m (9:23.36), No. 46 in the 1,600m (4:24.55) and No. 58 in the 800m (1:57.65).
His time of 4:28.19 in the full mile, however, had him ranked No. 11 in the state.
Viera is scheduled to compete at the Region Class 4A-3 meet on Friday at Palm Beach Gardens. Rendek has qualified in the 3,200m, though there is no word on whether an appeal has been granted for his inclusion in the 1,600m.
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