Many people will remember the 75th annual Thanksgiving Day Troy Turkey Trot for a long time, but not always for the right reasons.
It looks like Xavier Salvador hit Jack Huber in the hip with the metal barrier as he came down the stretch. Huber is a young runner from Delmar. That sent both runners to the pavement.
Hear reaction from Huber and Modesti to what happened, and see the video by watching Dan Levy’s story.
The annual Troy Turkey Trot in Troy, New York is a beloved Thanksgiving tradition for many local families. However, the 2022 race garnered controversy when a leading runner was disqualified after an accidental collision with a child participant. This high-profile disqualification has sparked debate within the running community about race etiquette and safety protocols.
In this article, we will break down the details of this controversial incident, explore both sides of the debate, and provide perspective on creating a safe and fair racing environment for all participants.
The Incident
On Thanksgiving morning 2022, the Troy Turkey Trot kicked off with nearly 7,000 participants running the 10K and 5K courses. Among them was Simon Ndiritu, a Kenyan-born professional distance runner residing in New York. Ndiritu quickly pulled ahead of the pack and was leading the race.
Around the 3-mile mark, at an unusually narrow section of the course, Ndiritu collided with a young boy participating in the shorter 5K race. The boy fell, sustaining scrapes, but was not seriously injured. Officials disqualified Ndiritu for the collision.
Despite his disqualification, Ndiritu crossed the finish line first with a time of 29:12. The next runner to cross was Ahmad Dixon at 30:45. However, race organizers upheld the decision to disqualify Ndiritu, awarding first place to Dixon.
Arguments Against the Disqualification
Many in the running community have argued Ndiritu’s disqualification was unfair given the accidental nature of the collision. They cite these mitigating factors:
-
The collision was unintentional – Ndiritu did not purposefully impede or endanger the child
-
The narrow course setup increased risks – the constricted running path left little room to maneuver around slower racers.
-
Ndiritu was in the lead – front runners cannot easily slow their pace and should have right-of-way priority.
-
The child entered the wrong race – 5K participants should not have been on the 10K course area.
-
No past precedence – collisions are common in mass participation races but rarely incur disqualification.
Some see Ndiritu’s treatment as overly harsh. They argue the organizers should have either issued a warning or minor time penalty rather than disqualification.
Arguments Supporting the Disqualification
On the other side, many defend the decision to disqualify Ndiritu from winning the race. They make counterpoints including:
-
Ndiritu acted carelessly – whether intentional or not, he failed to take proper precautions approaching the congested area.
-
The safety of minors comes first – children deserve extra care and precaution from adult participants.
-
Disqualification is protocol – collision with a vulnerable participant warrants removal from competition.
-
A clear message must be sent – harsh enforcement of safety guidelines helps prevent future negligence.
-
Prevent litigiousness – tough stances reduce potential for lawsuits and liability issues.
-
Maintain family-friendly environment -disciplining hazardous behavior preserves the race’s accessible atmosphere.
This perspective views the disqualification as an unfortunate but necessary move to uphold safety and enforce accountability.
Key Takeaways
Upon closer evaluation, there are good faith arguments on both sides of this controversy. Here are some of the key considerations:
-
Race organizers have a duty to promote safety and enforce codes of conduct. Disqualifying Ndiritu sent a strong message about upholding these standards.
-
However, the collision seemed unintentional on Ndiritu’s part. A lesser penalty may have sufficed given the circumstances.
-
Broader communication and education on race etiquette and road sharing could help prevent such incidents.
-
Course layout, congestion management, and race operations also require review to improve safety.
-
Mass participation events involve inherent risks. Organizers and participants share responsibility for caution and preparedness.
The Troy Turkey Trot incident sparks important discussions about balancing safety, fairness, and personal responsibility at running events. Race directors face tough decisions that will be inevitably scrutinized but must keep protection of all participants at the forefront. A collaborative effort on infrastructure enhancements and culture change around road racing etiquette can help make future events enjoyable for everyone.
