[ TRACK AND FIELD ]
Word of Life
holds out top seed in
110 hurdles with injuryLogan Taylor has been cleared
by a doctor to run "at his own risk"
A No. 1-seeded hurdler is being held out of today's state meet because of differing opinions on what constitutes medical clearance.
Word of Life senior Logan Taylor got a note from a doctor yesterday saying he could compete in the 110 hurdles "at his own risk" after he had surgery last week for a broken left radius bone (wrist), and he is with his teammates on Maui as they prepare for today's trials of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association/Island Movers Track and Field Championships.
But the school's principal said that is not enough.
"We need a valid medical clearance," Royce Tanoue said. "We don't have a statement saying he's fit and of no risk to himself. He had surgery five days ago and the boy has two pins and a metal plate. If he falls it can be serious."
Taylor's father said the school's demands are unrealistic and the note they have should be enough.
Stan Taylor said he believes his son is being held out of the meet because of complaints Stan Taylor made when, according to him, Word of Life "botched" an opportunity Logan Taylor had to run in a meet on the mainland.
"This is a repercussion," the father said.
Tanoue replied.
"Repercussion? That was handled at the athletic department level. I have no knowledge of the details. Today, I made the call. Someone had to make the call."
Stan Taylor said a hand specialist who operated on Logan's hand on Friday faxed a note to Word of Life yesterday saying, "Logan can compete in track & field as of 5/12/04 at his own risk."
There is no rule against participating with the type of fiberglass cast Taylor has on his wrist. Two years ago, Kamehameha's Jesse Lee ran both hurdles events in the state meet with a similar cast, winning one event.
"Based upon the information provided to us, this is a matter between the family and the school," HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said. "It's not under the HHSAA jurisdiction."
Taylor's state-best time of this year in the 110 hurdles is 14.45 seconds. It is 1/100th of a second off the state meet record of 14.44 by Dana Navarro-Arias of Maui in 1999.
"It befuddles me why they won't tell me I can run," said Logan Taylor, a senior who plans to run at USC next year. "Once we turned in the paperwork, we knew we did everything we could do."
"These people don't have policy. They're making policy on my son's back," Stan Taylor said. "They couldn't keep him from going. They tried. But he's qualified to be there. He's the fastest 110 high hurdler in the state."