Aaron Sahlman breaks the NFHS rules by pacing a boys 3200m at Arcadia

Wow you people really hate Newbury Park and will anything to get them in hot water

How was he not partcipating? He was in the race, that's the definition of participating in the event. Now you want anyone who DNFs to be DQ'd from other events in a particular meet that already happened? Where is that in the rules? Maybe if you DNF a race, you get canceled for the whole season?

I don’t think this was a thread against Newbury Park but more about the Arcadia race director allowing a pacer in a High School race. It does seem strange to allow this. They should have put pacers in the miles races. Besides Sadie in the girls invite the miles were very slow

Cool. Nobody cares.

The OP's point was 'he wasn't in the race since he wasn't on the start list'.

It actually raises the bar for a glorious DNF. This young man banditted the famous Arcadia 3200, gobbled up 5 minutes of big time on screen time for his brand and then DNF'd with style and class.

Which is better, to bandit Arcadia, or the college guy who banditted the Texas state xc meet?

If you are not on the start list, you are not a participant.
People can’t come from the stands and jump into a race.

The only way a pacer can be allowed, is if he can finish and be part of the results. You can’t stop someone from dropping out.

But you can stop someone from starting.
Why was he allowed on the start line?

Why are you assuming that the RD can't add him to a start list? Is there a "final" start list that can't be changed? Is there something like that in a rule book?

This solves Klecker's problem with the nuisance of qualifying for the World 10k. He can just show up at Budapest start line and tell RD to add him to the start list.

Yes, the RD can add him to the start list at the last minute in an invitational.
Did he?

The OP said he wasn’t on the start list, so I’m going by that.
If he was added, he should be in the results as DNF.
Is he in the results?

Why have rules then?!

Were it anyone else without the proverbial silver spoon it may be different

Yes, he is in the results as a dnf. There are pacers in fast high school races all the time these days. That is a big part of the reason races are so fast. Arcadia brought together one of the great fields of all time (two sub-4 junior milers for one thing) for the boys invitational 3200m, and they delivered alright, but would they have gotten three guys at 8:34 without Sahlman's pacing the first half? Sure, they would have had the parade of 8:40s guys but probably not this.

1) if you’re a jealous kid, give it a freaking rest

2) if you’re an adult, rethink your priorities in life

Has anyone asked Rich Gonzalez, the meet director, about the inclusion of Aaron Sahlman and if he knows about the pacing? It was clear his intention was to pace as he kept checking his watch. I wonder what Rich’s take is, if he knew and if he thinks it’s within the rules.

You started your post with an incorrect statement, and then based the rest of your post on that incorrect statement. So everything you wrote is irrelevant.

When I looked at the start list a few HOURS before the race, there were 34 runners on the start list.

When I looked at the start list a few MINUTES before the race, Aaron Sahlman was on there, as number 35.

Next time you feel like going on a rant you should at least get your facts straight.

He was on the live results start list before the race.

Sahlman clearly was good enough to qualify for the invitational 3200 start list. And I don't think the national federation gives AF how meet directors assemble their respective races. Once Sahlman was in the race if he wanted to just stroll along looking at his watch for 1600 meters and then dropping out that's his right. I think what that rule bars is someone who is not entered in the meet jumping in to pace or someone not authorized to run in the meet. Leo? Lex? I wonder if anything will come of this.

Then it’s fine and the OP gave misinformation.

My post was based on what the OP said (that he was never on the start list) and the fact that none of the initial responses refuted that statement.

I am going from supporting the OP to revolting.
Though, a link to the results would be nice.

arcadiainvitational.org

ArcadiaInvitational.org - Arcadia Invitational - Results - 2023 Results

2023 Arcadia InvitationalFriday-Saturday, April 7-8 at Arcadia HS, CA33 National Records! 203 U.S. Olympians!A record 690 schools/36 states registered!**FREE RACE VIDEOS****FULL RESULTS** ***2022 MEET HIGHLIGHTS***Sadie Engel...

Open link

Yup. He’s there as a DNF.
BOO, to the OP.

LIAR!

You need to replace “never” with “not initially”.