Graham Tomori of St. Catharines, Ont., was disqualified after the boys 5,000m medal ceremony for stepping inside the track

Photo by: Makai Walker/@kaishots7

Graham Tomori of St. Catharines, Ont., thought he’d just run the race of his life.

The 18-year-old crossed the line in 14:23.87 in the boys’ 5,000m event at the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia.

It was good enough for a silver medal in a deep field of North America’s best high school distance runners. But the celebration didn’t last.

After the awards ceremony, Tomori was informed he’d been disqualified under USATF Rule 163.5, stepping along the inside of the rail—a technical infraction that stripped him of both his medal and time.

According to Tomori, the infraction occurred around the 3K mark of the race, when he accidentally stepped inside the rail while trying to avoid contact with another runner.

Instead of forcing his way through, Tomori said he made a split-second decision not to impede his competitor, not knowing it might cost him.

“I was disqualified for stepping on the inside instead of falling back 3km in,” Tomori wrote on social media.

“I felt in that moment it was the right move not to harm my competitors, as I would’ve had to shove one of them.”

USATF Rule 163.5 covers a range of lane violations, including stepping off the track voluntarily, cutting in too early during a waterfall start, or gaining any advantage by stepping inside the rail.

Even one misstep, whether intentional or not, can result in disqualification if race officials deem it to have affected competition.

“I gave the New Balance 5,000m my heart and soul for that silver medal,” Tomori wrote on social media. “To get DQ’d after the medal ceremony really hurts.”

Photo: @grahamtomori17/Instagram

Earlier this month, Tomori capped off his high school career at Ontario’s high school championships (OFSAA) by finishing second in the 3,000m and fourth in the 1,500m behind close friend and training partner Brody Clark.

Tomori said, despite the disqualification, he understands the official’s decision and is grateful for the next opportunity to race.

Tomori is set to attend Butler University in Indiana this fall, where he’ll continue his track and cross-country career in the NCAA system.

And while the DQ might feel like the end of the world, it’s a lesson even many elite athletes have to learn at some point.