In the high-stakes world of track and field, split-second decisions can lead to lasting controversies. It was the 1984 Olympics, 3000 m finals, and two runners collided with each other. It seems controversy is not a new thing in track and field. Sometimes incidents occur unintentionally, and sometimes intentionally. Well, a recent controversy has sparked debates about the same among fans and athletes alike. The race took an unexpected turn, raising questions about sportsmanship and officiating. So? What happened?

NBC Sports director of social media, Travis Miller, shared a small video showcasing the crash between the athletes. The caption reads, “3rd leg of the Big 12 4x400m final got chippy between Texas Tech and Arizona State 🍿” Athletes from Texas Tech and Arizona State collided during a Big 12 Championship’s 4×400 relay at Texas Tech-Sports Performance Center. Not once, but twice. Yep, you read it right.

While fans are asking for a disqualification, there is no such statement from any of the teams. A Texas Tech athlete can be seen pushing the Arizona State athlete to move forward. Though Arizona athlete took the lead and reached very close to Texas once again. But it didn’t stop there.

The second collision was not like pushing or something—both athletes just touched each other before handing over the baton for the 4th heat. This incident is reminiscent of past controversies in track and field. Notably, during the 1984 Olympics, the collision of the South African runner, Zola Budd, and American Mary Decker in the 3,000 meters event resulted in Decker’s fall.

However, overall, Texas Tech topped the chart with 130 points in the men’s category, including all the events, while Arizona secured a seventh place with 51.5 points. But this recent clash is a perfect example of what can sometimes be a very fine line between aggressive competition and foul play. Track and field athletes are shocked, especially because there was no disqualification, and no talks of it as well.

“That’s Crazy”: Track and field fans in shock

The world of track and field thrives on speed, endurance, and razor-thin margins—but when chaos erupts mid-race, it sparks outrage. The recent clash during Big 12 has left fans fuming. “Texas Tech should have been DQ’d for this,” one fan wrote, reflecting the growing frustration over the lack of a disqualification. Such an incident happening twice in a short period with the same athletes is not something to be ignored. The fact that the officials let it slide has only deepened the controversy, fueling debates about fairness in track and field.

The frustration isn’t just about the contact—it’s about consistency in officiating. “Blatant interference TWICE and no DQ? 🤨” Another fan pointed out how this wasn’t an isolated incident, as many runners during the weekend were running far off the rail, leaving room for inside passes. The Arizona State athlete, despite being pushed, fought back and nearly overtook Texas Tech. The second collision wasn’t as aggressive, but it cemented the chaos that unfolded on the track. Fans were left questioning: was this competitive aggression or an unfair advantage?

Reactions continued to pour in, capturing the sheer intensity of the moment. “😂 it’s smoke after that type of pushing”—a clear sign that tempers were flaring. “Smh that’s crazy,” one fan summed up the chaos as Texas Tech and Arizona State athletes collided not once but twice with no disqualification.

Another pointed out, hinting at a bigger issue of erratic lane discipline, “So many runners this weekend running way off the rail and getting passed on the inside.” And with both athletes clashing repeatedly, one fan joked, “They must be very good friends who cannot do without each other.” While the controversy rages on, the lack of officiating action leaves fans questioning the integrity of track and field rules.