Track: Adoree’ Jackson fails in court challenge

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Stephanie Bowick on Friday morning refused to reinstate disqualified Gardena Serra long jumper Adoree’ Jackson for Friday’s Masters Meet, saying she lacked jurisdiction.

An attorney for Jackson had filed a complaint on Thursday seeking an injunction to let Jackson compete in time for the Masters Meet, but the complaint was filed in the wrong court, according to Bowick, who handles limited jurisdiction. It needed to be in an unlimited jurisdiction division.

The judge ordered the case transferred, and if a fee is paid, it can continue. Jackson’s attorney, Shawn Jefts, said, “It is a bit of a longshot, but we intend to see it through for Adoree’.”

The state championships are next Friday and Saturday in Clovis, and a judge would have to order him to be allowed to participate even though he didn’t qualify at the Southern Section finals or Masters Meet.

Jackson, the state champion in 2012, was disqualified at the Southern Section Division 4 prelims when he went over to see video on a cellphone shown by assistant coach Russell Biggs. Biggs said he was trying to help Jackson with safety concerns over the pit at Carpinteria High. Jackson and his coach were warned by a meet official not to continue, and Jackson was allowed to resume the long jump. But multiple coaches filed protests, and Jackson was later disqualified.

A new national rule went into effect this year stating, “Electronic devices may be used in unrestricted areas and coaching boxes, providing the location does not interfere with progress of the meet as determined by the meet referee.”

Also, “Electronic devices shall not be used to transmit information to the competitor during the race or trial.”

Jackson believes the Southern Section was wrong in its decision, but the section refused to overturn the decision, saying the coach was in a restricted area.

Jackson, who’s headed to USC on a football scholarship, attended Friday’s hearing. Asked why he went to court, Jackson’s brother-in-law, Jason Keene, said, “Fairness. Justice. He was telling Adoree’ about safety. It was nothing about trying to get an advantage.”