Eligibility: UAA XC Running-Bangalisan |
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Eligibility Ruling
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2017-18 SeasonOctober 25, 2017
Facts:Augustana seeks a ruling that Ms. Bangalisan be deemed eligible to compete at ACAC Cross Country Running Championships. According to Augustana’s request for a ruling, Ms. Bangalisan started the season running with their team for fitness purposes only. She then decided that she wished to compete at the Augustana Grand Prix race on October 14, 2017, which was the last of the ACAC’s 5 Grand Prix races. Unfortunately, due to administrative issues, Augustana was unable to properly complete Ms. Bangalisan’s eligibility forms in time for the race. As a result, the school properly instructed her to compete as an open runner in that race. Ruling:The relevant provision of the ACAC Operating Code is Article I Section 13, which reads as follows: 3.1. Minimum Requirement: ACAC cross country running programs must participate in a minimum of three (3) Grand Prix races prior to ACAC Championships. (Added May, 2009) 3.1.1. To be eligible to compete in the championships, a student-athlete must be listed on the original certificate of eligibility or on a supplemental certificate of eligibility and must start in at least one Grand Prix race. (Added January, 2016) In my opinion, Ms. Bangalisan has not complied with Rule 3.1.1 above in that she was not listed on a certificate of eligibility and did not start in at least one Grand Prix race. Although not expressly stated in the Operating Code, competing as an open runner in a Grand Prix race does not qualify as having started the race as there is an implied element of the rule that requires that the athlete do so as an eligible ACAC athlete. As such, Ms. Bangalisan has not met either of the two requirements of Rule 3.1.1 Augustana takes the position that Ms. Bangalisan otherwise met all eligibility requirements prior to the Augustana Grand Prix; however, the only reason she was unable to be listed on their eligibility certificate was due to internal administrative issues and that, as such, she should be deemed to have met the requirements of Rule 3.1.1 and be ruled eligible to compete at the ACAC Cross Country Running Championships on October 28, 2017. Notwithstanding that Ms. Bangalisan is not responsible for Augustana’s failure to properly ensure that she was eligible for the October 14th Grand Prix race, Rule 3.1.1 provides me with no discretion to make an exception for an athlete who has not complied with the requirements of the rule. Accordingly, it is my ruling that Ms. Bangalisan is not eligible for the ACAC Cross Country Running Championships on October 28, 2017. Sincerely, Bill Hendsbee
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