The 3A boys discus at the 2017 State Finals didn't come without controversy. Niceville senior and UF signee Edward Shelikoff was sitting in first with a new state leader and personal best throw of 200-3 which he hit on his first attempt.
Up walks Jarez Parks of Sebastian River for his final attempt sitting in second place. Parks is a University of Alabama signee and one of the top football prospects in the nation. He's also the 2015 and 2016 state champion in the discus. As he enters the circle he spins to perfection and launches the implement a new state record and US#5 mark of 210-5. The throw broke the previous record of 203-4 set by Charlotte High School's Wesley Stockbarger in 2004.
His throw was a personal best by over twenty feet and there is no question it flew that distance. However, in the video above it appears that Parks left the circle before the disc lands which is considered a foul. It is hard to tell when the implement touches the ground, but several officials did not call it.
According to one spectator, "It was too difficult to see if his foot touched in the front, I looked at the video in slow motion and it appears his foot in front is not causing the foul, but him leaving the circle out the back before the disc lands or "mark" is called by the officials. This is what the spectators and coaches witnessed and called. You also see the seated official lift his red flag half way but that official is overruled by the other official who watched the disc land, not Parks."
Article 9f and 9g in the rules states, "It is a foul if the competitor not under control before exiting the back half of the circle." 9g goes onto add, "It is a foul if the competitor leaves the circle before the the implement has landed and the judge calls mark."
Shelikoff then went onto throw 200-8 on his last throw. The end result, no foul called and Parks was crowned state champion for the third consecutive year.
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The 3A boys discus at the 2017 State Finals didn't come without controversy. Niceville senior and UF signee Edward Shelikoff was sitting in first with a new state leader and personal best throw of 200-3 which he hit on his first attempt.
