Cross country coach resigns after NCAA error
By Michael Prescott
Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Coach Jesse Torres has resigned as men's and women's cross country coach after an NCAA violation at the Sept. 8 meet at Humboldt State University in Arcata, Athletic Director Josh Doody announced Oct. 2.
At the Sept. 8 meet, Torres replaced runner John Garcia with runner Adam Heredia. Heredia is one of the top runners for the talented NDNU program. He is a transfer from Sacramento and, due to a NCAA transferring process, Heredia had not yet been cleared to participate in collegiate events, Doody said.
He had intended to run unaffiliated but instead ended up running with Garcia's bib (and identification).
The NDNU athletics website still lists Garcia as coming in fifth in the meet, but Garcia said he did not run.
Senior Garcia, who is eligible to run, was replace by the ineligible Heredia.
"Adam accidentally ran under my name against rules," Garcia said. "It's complicated."
In a cross country meet, the participants wear bibs, which have the runner's number and name on the front. Garcia said Heredia grabbed the wrong bib unintentionally.
"We have filed a report with the NCAA regarding the infraction," Doody said. "I am still waiting the NCAA's response."
A fine and forfeiting the win at the Humboldt meet are likely consequences, he said.
"Beyond that, I am waiting to see," Doody said.
Doody would not comment on Heredia's status of eligibility.
At the Sept. 8 meet, Torres replaced runner John Garcia with runner Adam Heredia. Heredia is one of the top runners for the talented NDNU program. He is a transfer from Sacramento and, due to a NCAA transferring process, Heredia had not yet been cleared to participate in collegiate events, Doody said.
He had intended to run unaffiliated but instead ended up running with Garcia's bib (and identification).
The NDNU athletics website still lists Garcia as coming in fifth in the meet, but Garcia said he did not run.
Senior Garcia, who is eligible to run, was replace by the ineligible Heredia.
"Adam accidentally ran under my name against rules," Garcia said. "It's complicated."
In a cross country meet, the participants wear bibs, which have the runner's number and name on the front. Garcia said Heredia grabbed the wrong bib unintentionally.
"We have filed a report with the NCAA regarding the infraction," Doody said. "I am still waiting the NCAA's response."
A fine and forfeiting the win at the Humboldt meet are likely consequences, he said.
"Beyond that, I am waiting to see," Doody said.
Doody would not comment on Heredia's status of eligibility.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 10
ENRIQUE HERNANDEZ
posted 9/28/07 @ 7:32 AM PST
Errors due happen. Especially if the runner grabbed the bib# right before the start. It has happend countless of times, at least once for ever runner. (Continued…)
Sl
posted 9/28/07 @ 11:30 AM PST
Umm... yea, right. Busted is more like it.
Coach
posted 9/28/07 @ 12:01 PM PST
Errors due happen? No, errors do happen, but not at all like this. No way does running an ineligible athlete "just happen."
College coaches and athletes should be able to read. (Continued…)
Francisco Rubalcava
posted 9/28/07 @ 12:37 PM PST
I am a former collegiate runner and currently coach cross country part/time as an assistant boys coach. I feel that this error against Coach Jesse Torres is completley absurd because wrong bib number exchanges happen all the time especially before the start of a race. (Continued…)
Coach
posted 9/28/07 @ 1:07 PM PST
If this was a mistake, it could have been cleared up and corrected (self reported) as soon as the results were printed up, before anyone left the meet, and there would not have been any problem. (Continued…)
runninggal
posted 9/29/07 @ 8:01 AM PST
I find it very unlikely that this coach didn't know that his star transfer runner was not yet eligible to compete. Torres may be a man of integrity who used poor judgement in this situation. (Continued…)
Moses Castillo
posted 9/29/07 @ 11:08 AM PST
I have information to prove this was not accidential, but a "thought-out preplanned" act by Coach Torres and I welcome any officials investigating this incident to contact me via email. (Continued…)
SpiritRunr323
jus1<3
posted 10/03/07 @ 11:28 PM PST
A lot of what's being said on here is infair to the team itself. The team has enough to worry about with upcoming races, and doesn't deserve all of this negative PR. (Continued…)
Coach
posted 10/05/07 @ 5:10 PM PST
I don't see anything denigrating the team here.
As far as the numbers, again, every team I have ever coached, and all the athletes I have coached, are so focused on their race, that they do concentrate on every detail such as making certain that they have the correct number with their correct name. (Continued…)
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