Controversial official returning as Orono running referee
A week after Charlotte nationals last year, Running Referee Murray Sanford did the strangest thing — he quietly reversed a DQ in the M45 short hurdles, effectively aiding a fellow Georgian, Dexter McCloud. The Games Committee, you’ll recall, belatedly rendered a no-verdict in this case. But as I said back then, the committee’s ruling was a slap in the face of Murray. Now look who’s the running referee at next week’s Orono nationals! Yeah, Murray Sanford. Officials’ assignments at Orono have now been posted. So athletes have another thing to worry about besides their competition and fitness — whether officiating will be by the book. My advice: If you dispute a call, get your appeal in quickly.
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How this guy ever got the Referee position again after some horendus calls is really a problem. He disquualified our women’s 4 x 800 relay because the official told our anchor leg to get off the track and pointed to the infield. She stepped off the track until the Athena team finished got back on the track to run the final leg to find out the official had DQ ed her for basicalkly following his directions–I protested the call–but the official had left–so Murry in his infinate wisdom up held the disqualification.I was told later that I could have lodged an appeal with the games committee–now this is where I have the biggest problem the Games Committee is well aware of these calls made by Murray and never the less he is the Referee for Nationals again this year–that’s pretty poor on the part of the Games Committee.
On the bright side, all hurdlers can now push down hurdles with their hands, and Murray won’t DQ you! Yahoo!
Our sport is built on integrity, and the integrity of most officials is fantastic. I just wish I could write that the integrity of ALL officials was beyond reproach.
And I agree with Mark: The handling of this by the Games Committee (or the lack thereof) was poor. It’s time for some new blood, so I hope others will step up to the plate and begin getting more involved in the leadership of our sport here in America. We need you!
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