We've slightly edited our flash recap.
However, shortly after the race was over and before heat #2 even started, Quigley was disqualified for stepping on the line after the fifth water jump. Yesterday in the men’s steeplechase final, after a French protest, the officials determined that Evan Jager had also stepped on the same line but he was no DQd as they said he stepped on the line when it was straight and had not gained a material advantage. In this case, they did claim Quigley both stepped on the line while it was curved (which results in a DQ unless you are pushed or forced inside) and gained a material advantage and thus she’ll miss out of the final. Looking at replays, it appears Quigley actually stepped on the line twice, once when it was straight (which is ok as long as no ‘material advantage’ is gained) and then once when it was curved.
A few tweets for you to look at:
https://twitter.com/Steph_Rothstein/status/895360918649020416
https://twitter.com/FloTrack/status/895350591257546753
https://twitter.com/letsrundotcom/status/895363994701246464
https://twitter.com/usatf/status/895355759223025668
Quick Thought: The IAAF needs to change the rule book or build a rail
Ezekiel Kemboi‘s DQ last year was absurd. Same thing here. Quigley’s stepping on the line didn’t impact the race. The IAAF rule book doesn’t allow for common sense however. It says if you touch the line on a curve, you are out unless you were forced inside (like Mo Farah). Given how political shenanigans have impacted international sport over the years, we understand why the IAAF wants to leave very ambiguity in its rules but DQs like these in the steeple are unsporting. The contact rule is similar – should someone really be DQd for impeding someone at the start of a 10k?
If the IAAF doesn’t want people stepping on the line, they need to build a rail as it’s natural for the people on the outside to cut in.
Think about how an inside water jump is set up. It’s straight and then turns sharply to the left so people in front on the outside naturally will come in and cut off people on the inside. People on the inside like Quigley or Kemboi only step on the line when they are cut off by other making a hard left. So it seems reasonable that Quigley could claim she was forced inside which is what Stephanie Bruce is arguing in her tweet.