Yes, my HS athletes were severely impacted by the AIA decisions. My HS guys finished 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the State Final 3200 (prior to them adding another 3200 after the meet was over).
From my perspective, this is what happened:
The AIA mixed up and admitted to making an error on check-in. They held out the six kids that they believed had not checked in. A few others protested and walked off the track. Without saying a word over the intercom or any announcement, 15 kids started racing the 3200. It looked odd and the defending state champion was not running but no one really knew anything so they raced. Nothing was ever said during the race at all and it was a strategic, pedestrian, race.
My guys finished 1-4.
The defending state champion and a few others LEFT the meet so they never heard about the second 3200. I don't know if they would have been allowed to run or not.
About one hour after all of this started, they announced this 'added' 3200. And finally, an official came out to explain what was going on to several irate coaches. So I asked Mary Wimmer, head of the AIA at the meet, and before the start of this second 3200, what they were going to do with the results from this other group. Keep in mind, this was the Division 1 State Meet. ALL Divisions compete this upcoming weekend so the top times from this meet compete one week later (top times from all 5 divisions). Mary told me that the 'points and medals' would not be affected by this second 3200. I volunteered to put my guys back on the track for the second 3200 as my guys would easily have won that race too. But when she told me that, I said 'ok, then my guys won't run' and I walked away.
Boston Walseth was the only guy in the second group to run faster than my guys but when they inserted this new group, every kid got affected from the actual State Final 3200. Around midnight, the results still had my guys finishing with points and medals. Boston's time was listed but '0' points associated with his performance.
The next morning, David Hines got involved (Executive Director from the AIA) and put out a statement. It is copied here:
An issue arose Thursday evening in the boys Division I 3200-meter race, between the check-in area and the clerk of the course. This resulted in alternates entered in the race and other athletes told they had not checked into the event and not taken over to the starting line. This error by meet management should not have happened. After discovering all the facts, the meet referee determined the athletes be given the opportunity to race, while the other athletes that protested the race were given the opportunity to race after the running of the 4X400 relays. The individuals that had protested the decision and ran in the race after the 4X400 relays did receive times and those times will be merged with the other 3200- meter runners. The results of the merged races will determine placement and scoring of the boys 3200 meter run in Division I.
There were a variety of problems at the meet (they also stopped jumpers from competing - including the top jumper in the state - for lack of check in). They did NOT add a separate flight for these jumpers but have now allowed them to complete this weekend although they did not qualify through the normal course which was to be a top performer at the D1 State Meet.
Anyway, I have asked the AIA to respond to my protest, in writing, so that I may take the next step. The AIA has yet to award anyone a medal from the event but they docked our team the points that were earned in the event already.
Clearly, this has a negative impact on everyone that followed the rules and raced the actual State Final and clearly, my guys could have run faster (the top 3 all finished within 1 second of each other and really only ran a closing 400).
I am asking the AIA review their stance so they can make this right. There are other options than to create another 'final' and let the field know exactly what they need to run to win the state meet. And you are right, Zarian has not lost to anyone in this second group all year. My other guys as well.
That is where things stand today. The 'combined' State Meet (all divisions) is this weekend. My guys will all race there as well. I believe the AIA hopes that having these guys race again will silence the coaches but I've already fielded phone calls about why Zarian lost the state final along with coaches that watched the race and knew the results. Only to see the printed results not match the video from the race. This is not good. Zarian is a Junior. He is only beginning the college search process.