“I was relieved at first,” were the words track and field star Zariel Macchia said, and honestly, who wouldn’t be? The William Floyd star and Olympic hopeful had just swerved around a total mess. Zariel was first sidelined from the winter state championship over a quirky rule, then found herself caught in a legal whirlwind when her family took the NYSPHSAA to court. But in the end, she came out swinging. She didn’t just win the court battle—she hit the track running and took the title, proving it’s never over till you say it’s over.

Zariel Macchia’s latest victory at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island was nothing short of dramatic. She clinched the 3,000 meters with an impressive time of 9:21.73, securing her second career indoor state title. In doing so, she captured her seventh career New York State championship. Better yet, Zariel didn’t stop with the 3,000 meters.

She also anchored Suffolk’s intersectional relay, helping William Floyd snag the win in 10:02.06. The race wasn’t an easy win, though. Zariel started out trailing behind Fayetteville-Manlius’s Izzie Sullivan and Ithaca’s Tsadia Bercuvitz, but she kept her cool. Halfway through, she moved into second place, then took the lead with three laps to go. On the final lap, she surged ahead, finishing strong with both fists raised.

“It feels special, especially after everything that went down,” she said, looking back at the emotional journey. The support from the Track and field community had kept her going, and she made sure her second chance counted. However, this win almost didn’t happen due to some serious legal drama that had been brewing.

A well-deserved track and field victory

Just last month, back in February, track and field star Zariel Macchia faced a tough break when she was disqualified for violating the NYSPHSAA’s “College Rule” after competing at the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational. Zariel had raced against 45 collegiate athletes, which led to her being banned from the rest of the indoor season, including the state championships.

Not one to back down without a fight, Zariel and her family decided to challenge the decision in court, refusing to let this violation define her season. Zariel’s family filed a lawsuit, claiming that the NYSPHSAA’s decision was arbitrary and capricious. They argued that Zariel was unaware of the violation and had not knowingly competed against college athletes.

After a tense two-day hearing, New York State Supreme Court Judge Christopher Modelewski ruled in Zariel’s favor, allowing her to compete in the state championships. The judge noted that ruling against her would cause “irreparable harm” and that she had not knowingly violated the rule. With the legal battles behind her, Zariel was given the green light to race in the championships.

With her eligibility restored, track and field star Zariel returned to the track, determined to make the most of her second chance. “After everything that happened, I had to come out with a title today,” she said, and she did just that. Gaining support from the running community encouraged Zariel to keep pushing forward, and the William Floyd School District was thrilled to see her recovery. Through her difficult path full of hurdles, Zariel showed that determination brings about victory.