False starts are an inevitable part of track and field. In a sport where every second is precious, it makes sense that there are rules in place to ensure that no one has an unfair advantage. What you don’t often hear, however, is a DQ in a distance event.
At the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships on Saturday, controversy ensued after Ethan Gregg, of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, was disqualified for false starting in the 5,000 meters.
After the field of 22 runners stepped up to the line awaiting the starting gun, Gregg took a half step forward before the gun was fired, then quickly stepped back behind the line. The runners were asked to stand up for a restart—something not uncommon in a distance race—but moments later, an official approached Gregg and showed him a red card, indicating that one of the pre-race favorites was now disqualified.
Immediately, a chorus of boos erupted from the crowd. Other runners on the start line can be seen throwing up their hands in disbelief and giving a thumbs down gesture. The broadcast announcers couldn’t believe that the official issued such a harsh punishment. “Sir, you cannot do that at the national meet right now. It’s a 5K,” the announcer said. “One step is not going to matter in 14 minutes.”
“What a shame,” another announcer said. “Shame on the officials for disqualifying Ethan Gregg.”
(The decision was met with immediate boos from the crowd. The men’s 5,000 meters begins at the 3:23:09 mark.)
Gregg, who had the fourth-fastest seed time coming into the event, walked off the track and buried his head. Later, he was consoled by teammates.
While unconventional, the decision to disqualify Gregg was made within the rules of the NCAA, which state that “If a competitor commences the starting motion after assuming a full and final set position and before the report of the pistol/starting device, it shall be considered a false start and the competitor shall be disqualified unless the starter has canceled the start.”
This rule, however, is overwhelmingly applied to shorter-distance events, such as the 100 meters, 200 meters, or 110-meter hurdles. It’s incredibly rare to see a disqualification in the 5,000 meters—a 12.5 lap race that allows athletes plenty of time to establish their desired position. In most scenarios, if there’s movement on the line, the race officials will direct everyone to stand up and they’ll restart the process.
In a pre-race preview, the announcers noted that Gregg had made it clear that he planned on charging to the front of the race to make it fast, even telling a fellow competitor his strategy. The race’s field was considered to be one of the deepest in history, with every athlete seeded under 14:13.
Earlier in the meet, Gregg finished second in the 10,000 meters in 28:55, behind Alex Phillip, of John Carroll University. Phillip would go on to win the 5,000 meters as well.
Published: May 30, 2023 3:59 PM EDT Runner’s World. He is a former all-conference collegiate runner who’s based in Easton, PA. Previously, he worked as the newsletters editor at Runner's World, Bicycling, and Popular Mechanics.
