HS Coach Pacing Allowable?

Lauren Johnson paced Addy Wiley to the national 1600 record.

Was that outside of the normal HS season though? Like that wouldn’t have counted for the state series.

Gender can matter (but in this case it shouldn't). In the case of Wiley, it matters that it wasn't a sanctioned race by the high school activities association. If it was an "open" race, anyone of that gender can run. (I don't know if this was the case in Wiley's race, I think it was an open race, it wasn't against only HS competition)

In the case of OP, it sounds like it was a race "Sanctioned" by the rules of the state association, in which case only athletes that are eligible within the association's rules can compete. Some associations have specific rules allowing some events to be dual gender (usually the 3200m run), but any other event with someone not matching the gender could be thrown out. In this case, anyone who isn't eligible would negate the results, regardless of gender.

In the state I'm in, this wouldn't be allowed.

Webb broke the record in a pro race. High schoolers compete at BU or Drake or other meets during the season. Every state is different.

This would be illegal in pretty much all states for actual high school competitions. You should contact the appropriate state association and make sure they are aware of the situation. This could potentially effect athlete eligibility as well depending on state association rules.

No. It is permitted in nearly every state.

You said gender when you meant sex.

Every state association that I am familiar with only allows high school eligible athletes to compete with other high school eligible athletes for in season high school competitions.

In my state, only bona fide "students" are permitted to race in school sanctioned meets. "Open" meets are not school sanctioned and held to different standards.

It’s incredibly frustrating because this program time and time again gets away with doing whatever they want. No one is willing to bring this or anything else up to the governing state body.

Who the hell cares?

I'm surprised that meet officials let it happen without consequence. Certain small infractions result in warnings, but jumping in a race and pacing an athlete would get the athlete DQed, and may result in stiffer sanctions for the idiot coach.

I don't have a current rules book available but looking at the 2013 edition:

NFHS Rule 4, Section 6, Article 7b

"It is an unfair act when a competitor receives any assistance. Assistance includes:

b. Pacing by a teammate not in the race or persons not participating in the event."

You could even stretch it to include Article 7f

"f. Coaching a competitor from a restricted area."

This usually applies to field events but in this case, he is "coaching" from the track itself (a restricted area).

This only would apply to events held under NFHS rules. High schoolers running in college meets or Wiley's 1600 are not affected.

Nico Young set the 3000 record at Millrose running against pros.

Roisin Willis ran against pros more than high schoolers.

That rule is for idiots who run alongside. This coach was in the race.

Sophia Gorriarian is another one. Seems like most of you are new to the sport.

If the event wasn’t post season i agree the entire purpose of the coach pacing was to help the athlete become better. Isn’t that the purpose of high school sports until the culminating events which are at the end of the year. If anything great job coach for trying to make your athlete better!!!

Well in our state in-season meets can count toward post-season qualifying, so it does kind of matter. Plus you have qualifying times for the big meets across the state. A bit grimy IMO.