Six-Time New York Indoor Champion Will Get To Race At State Meet This Weekend

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

John Nepolitan photo

A Suffolk County court sided with Zariel Macchia in her appeal to an eligibility ruling that would have prevented her from competing at the New York state indoor meet on Saturday at Ocean Breeze. 

According to a report in the New York State Sports Writers Association, Justice Christopher Modelewski agreed that the William Floyd High senior was not aware of the rule. 

Macchia's eligibility was put in jeopardy when she competed at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational in a race that included a college athlete. That violated a NYSPHSAA rule that bars high school athletes from competing or practicing "with or against any individual or team representing a college" during a sport's season. 

Macchia, who has competed overseas while representing the United States and raced in a wide variety of out-of-state meets and road races in her time in high school, said she was not aware of the particular rule in question. Her lawyer, Cynthia Augello, pointed out that the rule had not been enforced consistently. 

The BYU recruit, who finished third at Foot Locker last December, is set to compete at Nike Indoor Nationals next week at The Armory.