COLLEGE STATION, Texas — An incident occurred at the USA Track and Field (USATF) Junior Olympic championships on Wednesday, July 24 that resulted in a USATF official and Texas A&M University employee being injured, according to a statement from USATF on Thursday, July 25.
According to USATF, Texas A&M determined that the crowd that was present on Wednesday at E.B. Cushing Stadium, where the event was being held, had exceeded the facility's capacity. As a result of the decision, access to E.B. Cushing Stadium was restricted, but the news wasn't received well by some.
A video originally posted on TikTok by zy.ptso and later reposted on X, formerly Twitter, with the caption "Usatf keeping athletes out of the track" shows event staff and a couple of police officers attempting to corral people that appear to be trying to get into the venue outside of the gates. The video later pans to a person jumping over the fence. Another person says "he's an athlete" as the person is approached by event security staff.
The USATF's full statement regarding the incident can be found below:
"With all our events, USA Track & Field (USATF) adhered to the security protocols put in place by every host venue, and we expect parents, coaches, athletes, and fans to be respectful of the rules made by the facility. On Wednesday, July 24, Texas A&M University determined that the crowd had exceeded capacity and consequently restricted entry to the facility. The actions of a small group of people resulted in an injury to a Texas A&M University employee, a USATF official, and others. We strongly condemn this behavior and will take disciplinary action against those involved."
This year's Junior Olympics, which are being held at Texas A&M, are running from July 22 to July 28. The event has been marred by rain delays, which have been a welcome presence to those seeking relief from the historically scorching hot summers in the Lone Star State, but aren't as celebrated by the competitors present at the Junior Olympics have had their events delayed.