MIAMI, Fla. -- At the end of the FHSAA 3A Region 4 track meet on Thursday evening at Traz Powell Stadium in Miami following the conclusion of the 4x400 meter relay, a brawl broke out between members of the track and field teams at Rockledge High School in Brevard County and Miami Northwestern High School in Miami-Dade County.
It was an ugly finish to arguably what was going to be labeled as possibly one of the best and most competitive regional meets in the state of Florida after a day of national-class performances and thrilling races at 3A Region 4.
As a result of the incident, both boys track and field teams from Miami Northwestern High School and Rockledge High School were disqualified by FHSAA officials from the meet and all of their regional meet results eradicated.
As it currently stands, neither team will be sending any boys qualifiers to compete at the state meet to be held in two weeks in Jacksonville at the University of North Florida.
The melee went on for 15 minutes or longer and it involved student-athletes and adults, with coaches and officials trying to intervene.
The fighting seemed to stem after a spirited boys 4x400 meter relay battle to conclude the meet, with Rockledge just edging Miami Northwestern at the line with both teams recording times of 3:17.
There was alleged trash talk after the race between the teams -- and others not on the relay -- that ignited the dispute, which took a turn for the worse and became physical.
One student-athlete, we learned, was concussed in the several altercations that occurred in spurts. Police, officials and coaches on-site were unable to fully stop the fighting for an extended period of time.
Others, we also learned, needed medical attention for scrapes, cuts and injuries. Flrunners witnessed several punches being thrown, along with the stomping and kicking of individuals down on the ground.
Both of the team's girls teams were not impacted in any disqualifications.
As the FHSAA, local law enforcement and both schools investigate the matter independently, the eligibility of the athletes who did not participate or engage in the fighting remains in limbo.
With the entire team being punished, state-bound athletes who may have already left the meet or were in other areas of the venue for both teams were also disqualified from the regional, despite not having any involvement in the fight.
One athlete, Rockledge distance runner Devin Makousky, was a potential state qualifier in two races and was not involved or on the infield when the fighting occurred.
The FHSAA is not closing the door completely on athletes not involved in the fighting, but the problem will be for them in determining who was involved and not as any video evidence is even tough to distinguish in a large mass of altercations who was present and actively fighting.
Video: Boys 4x400 race between Rockledge and Miami Northwestern that preceded the fight.
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There is no question that there will be severe consequences and ramifications for both programs as a result of the brawl by numerous student-athletes at each school, which included a complete loss of control and order by the coaches and officials.
Prior to the disqualification, both Rockledge and Miami Northwestern were ranked among the top six teams in the 3A classification.
Even if only members of their 4x400 meter relay squad are disqualified, a modified level of punishment will still have a significant impact on how well both teams compete at the state meet.
flrunners.com will provide more updates on the situation as more details emerge.
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