Layton reinstated into 110 HH at WPIAL meet
Waynesburg Central boys track & field coach Rick Layton and son Daniel had quite a tumultuous week concerning the senior鈥檚 status for the WPIAL Championships.
The week began last Wednesday when the coach incorrectly entered his son in the wrong hurdles race and concluded yesterday when the PIAA ruled in favor of the Layton鈥檚 appeal for reinstatement in the Class AA 110 high hurdles. The WPIAL Championships begin at 11 a.m. at Slippery Rock University.
鈥淭hey chose to reinstate Daniel into the 110 high hurdles,鈥� a relieved Rick Layton said.
The elder Layton spent the days in between with calls, emails and an appeal to the WPIAL that ended with a 12-3 no vote on Monday.
The PIAA appeals process began early Wednesday.
鈥淭he Stephensons (principal Bob and athletic director Justin), Mr. (Kirk) King, the solicitor, my wife and myself had a conference call at 9 a.m. I owned up to a human error. I said it鈥檚 not fair to assess my error on my son,鈥� explained Rick Layton. 鈥淭here was a Q&A session. Seemed like a pretty long (deliberation) to me, but they came back with a 5-0 vote (in favor of reinstatement).鈥�
Layton was pulled from the 300 intermediate hurdles, which was the original intent.
鈥淒aniel was removed from the 300 intermediate hurdles. (The 17th-fastest) time should be pulled up. I hope that鈥檚 what happened,鈥� said Rick Layton. 鈥淢y understanding is (the hurdler seeded 16th in the high hurdles) will run. It鈥檚 not fair to that young man.
鈥淪o, I don鈥檛 know if they鈥檒l run three equal heats (instead of two). I suggested have Daniel qualify for one of the two timed spots. Whether he runs by himself or in a heat, that鈥檚 up to them.鈥�
The top three finishers in each of the two Class AA heats automatically advance to the finals, along with the two fastest times.
Rick Layton pointed out the reinstatement gives his son the opportunity to compete, but is not a guarantee.
鈥淗e still has to go out and do his job. That鈥檚 the fairness of sports. Let the athlete decide the outcome,鈥� said Layton. 鈥淭he championship meet should be the best athletes on the track to see who is the best.鈥�
Daniel Layton was understandably anxious and then disappointed after the WPIAL ruling.
鈥淚t was very hard. He tried to be very supportive and very strong throughout, but the ruling Monday got to him a bit. The cracks started to show,鈥� explained Layton. 鈥淗e鈥檚 breathing a lot easier. He has a reprieve.鈥�
The reprieve allows Daniel Layton the opportunity to overcome a tragic stumble over the first hurdle in last year鈥檚 state final, causing the pre-race favorite to finish eighth.
鈥淭he PIAA finals, that鈥檚 what was killing me,鈥� said Rick Layton. 鈥淲e hired a coach just to get him ready for states.鈥�
Layton also had to prep the other Raiders participating in the district final.
鈥淲e refocused them. I apologized to all my kids and said they need to focus on the job at hand,鈥� said Rick Layton.聽
Rick Layton appreciated the support his son鈥檚 appeal drew and understands why what happened, happened, and hopes a more streamlined process in the future will result.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to write a letter, apologizing to Mr. (Tom) Norris and the WPIAL committee. I have no ill will to them. I know (the WPIAL Board) had their reason to vote against Daniel,鈥� said Layton. 鈥淭he WPIAL took a heckuva bash on social media. I feel sorry.
鈥淭he WPIAL needs to come up with an active verification process to catch these types of errors.鈥�