Update: The University Interscholastic League says there was “no evidence” Derrick was disqualified for that reason.

“Based on the UIL’s investigation, the student athlete raised his hand and gestured forward at the conclusion of the 4×100-meter relay. The meet official approached the student-athlete in an effort to warn him of a possible disqualification should that behavior continue. In the opinion of the official, the student reacted disrespectfully. Based on his reaction, the student-athlete was subsequently disqualified.”

In a letter submitted during the investigation, the runner said he made the gesture in “the thrill of victory” and didn’t feel his religious freedoms were violated.

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We understand that rules regarding excessive celebration exist to foster an environment of good sportsmanship, especially at the high school level. But common sense has to kick in at some point, doesn’t it?

Nowhere is this more evident than news over the weekend coming out of Texas, where the Columbus High boys 4 x 100-meter relay team was disqualified, as first reported by KHOU 11 News of Houston, after Derrick Hayes, the team’s anchor, pointed upward as he crossed the finish line first by about seven yards. His father, KC Hayes, believes his son was giving thanks in a gesture to God.

“He put his hand by his ear and just pointed at the heavens,” KC Hayes told KHOU.

The University Interscholastic League deemed the innocuous gesture a violation of its excessive celebration rule and disqualified the relay team, which, as a result, prevents the four boys from advancing to the state meet later this month. Predictably, the UIL’s ruling is being viewed as a violation of religious freedom to some folks, who have complained to the state but to no avail.

Regardless, this seems a terrible way for teenage boys to have everything they’ve worked for taken from them.

“You cross a finish line and you’ve accomplished a goal, and within seconds it’s gone,” KC Hayes said. “To see four kids, you know, what does that tell them about the rest of their lives? You’re going to do what’s right, work extra hard, and have it ripped away from you?”

While this technically might be a violation, it reeks of the UIL completely missing the spirit of the excessive celebration rule. If the kid pulled a Bible from his pants and yelled John 3:16 for all to hear, then we get it.

But this? Common sense, people.

(Thanks to Yahoo! Sports for alerting us to this story.)