18-year-old runner disqualified for pushing opponent before finish line

According to Canadian Running Magazine, Palencia, 18, lightly collided with Daniel Lopez on the final lap at the tournament in Salamanca on March 16, and was overtaken by his rival. Near the finish line, Lopez, who was running in the inside lane, suddenly switched to the right lane to block his Palencia.

Palencia became angry and pushed Lopez from behind. Despite the incident, Lopez still finished ahead of Palencia, taking second place, after Guillermo Sanchez who won the 1,500m event in 3 minutes and 54.55 seconds.

After that, the two runners had an intense and fierce argument. The organizers found Palencia guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct and disqualified him.

Mario Palencia wins the 2,000m hurdles gold medal at the 2022 European Youth Olympic Games. Photo by Instagram/@mariopg_110

Palencia appealed the ruling, arguing that Lopez's actions on the final lap had hindered him and he should have been penalized. The organizers later rejected the appeal, upholding the decision to disqualify Palencia.

As a result, he lost third place and the bronze medal. The runner from Valladolid, Spain, won a silver medal in his first appearance last year.

Palencia is Spain's most promising track and field athlete. He started running at the age of eight and was spotted by Isaac Viciosa, the Spanish middle-distance legend who won European gold in the 5,000m in Budapest in 1998. Palencia trained with the Vicky Foods Athletics team in Valladolid until last season.

Palencia has won several national medals at the U16 and U18 levels and a gold medal at the 2022 European Youth Olympic Games.

This is the second violent incident in youth athletics this month. During the women's 4x200m high school track meet in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 5, Alaila Everett hit Kaelen Tucker in the head baton from behind with a baton, injuring her.