05/30/2026
Milan Community Schools would like to provide clarification regarding an unfortunate situation involving two Milan High School student-athletes during the IHSAA Boys Track and Field Tournament.
Following the sectional meet at Columbus North High School on May 21, our coaching staff and athletes believed that one Milan runner had qualified to advance to the regional competition at Bloomington South High School. In track and field, it is not uncommon for athletes who qualify in multiple events to withdraw from certain events as they advance through the tournament series in order to focus on specific competitions. When this occurs, the IHSAA may issue a "call back," inviting the next eligible athlete to advance to the subsequent round.
Unfortunately, two Milan High School athletes were eligible for such a call back and were invited to participate in the regional meet. However, neither the athletes nor Milan High School personnel were aware of the invitation, resulting in the athletes missing the opportunity to compete at the regional level.
Upon learning of the situation, Milan High School immediately initiated a review of the circumstances. School administrators spoke with Head Track Coach Brian Potts, Athletic Director Susie Fidler, and representatives from both the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and MileSplit, the organizations responsible for tournament administration and communication.
The information gathered during our review confirmed that a notification should have been sent to a representative of Milan High School informing us that two student-athletes had been called back to the regional meet and requesting confirmation of their participation.
As part of the investigation, multiple email accounts and spam folders were thoroughly reviewed. No evidence was found indicating that such a notification was received by any Milan High School employee. Furthermore, the IHSAA was unable to verify that a notification email had been successfully sent to a Milan representative.
School officials also sought clarification regarding how the athletes appeared on the official regional heat sheets despite no participation confirmation being submitted on their behalf. At this time, neither the IHSAA nor MileSplit has been able to provide an explanation.
While we may never know exactly where the communication breakdown occurred, the outcome is disappointing. Two deserving Milan student-athletes were denied the opportunity to compete at the regional level in events for which they had earned qualification.
Milan High School has communicated directly with both families to explain the circumstances and share the information obtained through our review. In recognition of their achievement, both student-athletes will receive Regional Qualifier patches from the Milan Athletic Department.
We remain committed to advocating for our students and ensuring that every athlete receives the opportunities they have earned through their hard work and dedication.