Protests and appeals are in style, after all the controversy at the U.S. Indoor Championships. 

At the Southeastern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship, the Florida Gator women were crowned team champions after a disqualification of the Texas A&M squad in the women’s 4x400-meter relay. The Gators won the race in 3:30.16 with the Aggies crossing the finish line in second. 

Texas A&M’s eight points scored with their second place finish was just icing on the cake for their 4.5 point lead over Florida for the team title heading into the 4x400-meter relay. Incidental contact on the anchor legs would change all that. 

Here is a look at what happened going into the final stretch, which resulted in a change of champions:



Aggie Sports broke down what took place on and off the track as follows:

“First, an umpire reported an infraction during the final turn, saying that Florida had impeded A&M, disqualifying the Gators. But video evidence overturned that decision. Then Florida filed a protest, saying A&M had instead impeded the Florida runner. That protest was upheld, disqualifying A&M from the race. A&M subsequently protested to the Jury of Appeals, the final authority at the meet, but that protest was not upheld.”

Florida would win 102 to 96.5 over Texas A&M.