Malfunction at NCAA D2 track championships causes partially-blind runner to finish in last place

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A malfunction during the NCAA Division II 5,000-meter championship over the weekend caused a runner to finish in last place.

Davonte Jett-Reynolds, a senior from Adams State in Alamosa, Colorado, thought he was on the final homestretch of the 12.5-lap race after hearing the final lap bell, so he kicked it into full gear. However, he was unaware that the bell had rung one lap too early.

"Exhausted" from giving "everything I had" on what he thought was his last lap, a total of 15 runners passed Jett-Reynolds. After what he thought was a third-place finish, he wound up passing the finish line in 18th out of 18.

According to USA Today, the gaffe began when a lap counter, counting down, went from nine laps left to seven.

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Fans sit alongside the track during the Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at the Neta & Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl on May 27, 2023 in Pueblo, Colorado. (Grace Bradley/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

"When it should’ve went eight, and it’s a digital indicator at the finish line, they skipped eight and went to seven (laps). The visual of the lap counter went from nine to seven," Adams State track and field head coach Damon Martin told USA TODAY Sports. "They skipped eight."

The official rang the bell anyway, despite the counter being wrong.

Jett-Reynolds is completely blind in his left eye, and 20% impaired in his right. So, he relies on the bells to let him know how much longer he has - the track counter is located on the inside of the track to his left, so he cannot see it.

Jett-Reynolds says he heard officials saying there was one lap