I am a senior in high school, and I'm in a bit of a predicament. During practice last week another runner and I passed an old man on the sidewalk. He was walking down the middle of the sidewalk, so we parted around him. He yelled at us after we passed him, which we thought was kind of funny. The next day at practice, however, we were informed that he had called our AD and said that we had thrown him on the ground and laughed as we ran off. All of our coaches believe him, and are keeping us from leaving campus until we apologize to him in person. I've been running off-campus in the morning lately, but it's getting kind of old.
For reference, I'm in contention to win the 3200m and podium in the 1600m at state this year. My school hasn't had any decent distance runners since the 1970s.
I would honestly quit the team and run unattached if I could enter meets without the school; every year I have to deal with some ridiculous policy decision of the head coaches. I'm going to go along with it and apologize to the guy, but I feel like kind of a sellout for admitting to something I didn't do. Any advice?