Two Track Athletes Are Disqualified for Wearing Jewelry at League Meet

Kennedy High’s Sheri Lawson and Birmingham’s Sabino Miranda were disqualified after placing in races at Thursday’s Mid-Valley League track championships because of a City Section rule prohibiting track athletes from wearing jewelry during competition.

Lawson’s victory in the girls 3,200 meters and Miranda’s third-place effort in the boys 3,200 meters were disallowed by the starter because they wore jewelry.

Miranda, a senior who had his right forearm operated on recently, was wearing bandages with a medical bracelet. Lawson, a junior and the defending City champion at 3,200 meters, ran wearing a ring because her finger was swollen and she couldn’t remove it.

Kennedy Coach Pete Nelson said he would appeal the disqualifications to the City Section office.

“The disqualifications are ridiculous based on the circumstances,” Nelson said. “Miranda shouldn’t be disqualified for wearing a medical bracelet and Lawson tried to take the ring off her finger but couldn’t.”

If the disqualifications are upheld, there is still a chance that Miranda and Lawson could run in the 3,200 meters at next week’s City Section preliminaries as alternates.

Lawson qualified for next week’s preliminaries with a win in the 1,600 meters earlier in the day.