Rules experts, we need your help.
Kansas State's Akela Jones certainly had an up and down day 1 at NCAAs. After crashing to the ground in the hurdles, she had the best HJ in NCAA history (6'6") and then a top 10 LJ (22’3.75†). Entering the 800 of the pentathlon, she was actually still in contention for 2nd despite her fall in the first event.
However, she dropped out of the pentathlon 800 however and we assumed that meant she was out of the meet per the honest effort rule. As we were leaving the meet on Saturday, we grabbed a copy of the results and were surprised to see her as the HJ champion.
It's our understanding she was given credit for finishing the multi in 14th place (out of 14 competitors) even though she didn't finish the 800. Because of that, she was allowed to compete on Day 2.
1) Is the honest effort rule in the multi different than a regular event?
2) College coaches , can you tell us how the honest effort applies for normal events now? We know a few years ago it was modified so that a trainer can get a DNFer to continue. What do they have to claim for an athlete who drops out of an event to be allowed to continue in another event?
3) Should we just get rid of the honest effort rule since it clearly can be abused?