The best Long Island track and field star in recent memory will not be competing for the rest of the season.
The reason why Zariel Macchia isn't competing isn't because of an unfortunate injury, nor is it because of something of her choosing. Macchia has been banned from competing because of a technicality in the rule book.
The William Floyd High School senior was deemed ineligible for the rest of the indoor track and field season after what execs are saying were a rule violation that prohibits high school athletes from competing against college athletes. The decision came down from Tom Combs, the executive director of Suffolk County's governing body of interscholastic sports.
Macchia, who is not only a decorated athlete locally, but also is a prospective Olympian was told she would be ineligible after competing in the recent Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational with collegiate athletes. She finished third in that race but the race cost her dearly.
This is a technicality because the runners that she raced against were “representing a college.” The fine print is that if these same runners had not been representing their colleges and just entered as independent runners, Macchia would still be eligible and no rule enforcement would have been needed. Macchia, could have run for her college because she is a BYU commit, but ran in the race unattached.
Peter Macchia, her father, is investigating legal action, reports have said he has reached out to a lawyer and they plan to appeal ahead of the March 8th competition on Staten Island.
The ruling does not allow her to participate in the state championships on March 8th but she will be able to compete again in the spring season. Which makes the ruling seem even more slanted.
Macchia finished third in the mile at the Millrose Games earlier this month and has won six state championships in her high school career.