Again just so that we all understand when you see the video, she is in the correct lane of outgoing traffic while he is across the double yellow line (running in the wrong direction).
If he stayed on the correct side of the run course there would never have been a collision. The finish line was about 20-30yrds further down the rd- so he was not IN the finishline, nor even close to finishing. He chose to take a line that was closest to the rt turn he was eventually going to make.

The bruise on her face (which I saw post race), the account of numerous witness', the photo, the video and the opinion of the head USAT official led to his DQ which we stand by.

I know that we have all grown to accept the "folklore" of a triathlon swim and the rough housing that goes on. But civility and sportsmanship are the things that we as RDs want our grass roots events to inspire.
Both Dev and I as well a lot of you have raced for >24 yrs and can remember when this never occurred or was tolerated.
And because it was not tolerated it did not happen.

Our focus is to provide that grass roots feel, family oriented experience but to make sure that all racers are safe and get the same challenge and accomplishment as the pros do. I thank Dev for recognizing the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to make sure any race can go on, especially a long course one.

We do not do it for money but for the love of the sport.
So we will not tolerate unsportsmanlike behavior when it goes against the very foundation of what we stand for.

Every racer counts.

See all of you in IN, NY and our newest race in AZ!!! soon to be announced :)

Rich

I've been withholding judgment until seeing the video. After watching it, and reading the several related blogs and whatnot, I'm going to have to say the woman in question is mostly at fault here. Perhaps Blair should have stopped and checked, but the woman clearly was the impetus for contact. To call the contact a punch in the face, or to insinuate that she was thrown to the ground crying as even the RD had stated is such a gross misstatement of facts it borders on the absurd.

Now, admittedly I can be a bit of a heartless jerk, so I showed my wife the video (who barely has a competitive bone in her body and only enjoys the occasional stroller 5k and family jog). I simply asked who she thought was at fault. Her response was "why is that woman walking backwards on the road?" I then explained the fantastic thread to her, and she's since taken to reading all the linked blogs. She's convinced me that the woman in the video is a far worse person than Mr. DQ. She's smarter (and far more compassionate) than me, so I'll go with her opinion.

Paul,

After several spectators reported the incident post race and corroboration from a picture and video, we brought this to the head USAT official Russ Gold for his opinion. He looked at the picture and referred this matter to USAT who came back to us with a referral to DQ the competitor for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.
Ultimately it was my decision that the athlete be DQ'd because even though she MIGHT have been in his way this is NEVER an excuse to punch someone else. To his credit he sent back his award and medal without a major complaint because he knew that what he had done was not called for and done in a moment of emotion (rushing to the finish of a race).

It is also not apparent from the photo but he was running far to right when they collided when the run course was marked for incoming runners to stay left before making a rt turn into the finishline chute (about 20 yrds further down from the spot of their collision) and outgoing runners to stay to their left coming out of T2 (so as not to have any collisions).

From the spectators who came forward to report this, to the woman herself that did not want to make an issue of it, to the USAT Officials, to our staff, I think this was the right decision.

As both a racer and organizer for over 25 yrs I can honestly say that I was appalled by this.

Our race is a family oriented event that focuses on the athletes experience as well as safety.
There is no room for behavior such as this and this will never be tolerated.

Richard Izzo Race Director Toughman Half, Toughkids Triathlon Series.

I've been withholding judgment until seeing the video. After watching it, and reading the several related blogs and whatnot, I'm going to have to say the woman in question is mostly at fault here. Perhaps Blair should have stopped and checked, but the woman clearly was the impetus for contact. To call the contact a punch in the face, or to insinuate that she was thrown to the ground crying as even the RD had stated is such a gross misstatement of facts it borders on the absurd.

OK, he didn't run her over knowingly. He ran into her knowingly, so that makes it OK?

In light of this video, the brutal condemnation is warranted, IMO.

How about not stopping to check that she's OK. That's OK too?

I agree. More punching please.

What has made me laugh is everyone yelling about how the blog post blew the incident out of proportion but here ST is, 580+ posts into the thread, and more has been said on this thread than any blog post.

People really need to spend more time training and less time on ST. (Sorry Dan)

That video definitely doesn't do her any favors. She staggering around crossing the full lane. It's unclear where they belong (evidenced by the guy at the end running on the right) and he was getting squeezed between her and the other guy. Heck, when i'm racing I check intersections to make sure they are clear. I would never stagger around backwards like her

You have a big emotional investment in this for some reason. Do you know him or are you him?

There's an awful lot of hatred and anger in this thread. A whole bunch of you on both sides need anger management lessons. Seriously.

How did this non story ever get to this? There's no punch and barely a shove. What there is, is contact between a self absorbed woman not paying the slghtest bit of attention to her surroundings and a guy trying to finish his race. After seeing her finish line pictures with seven kids in tow, I was completely unsurprised by the actual video.

I'd love to hear from the race director again as to why three other people in the video are clearly running on the wrong side of the road if she was on the correct side.