Kentucky cross country runner pulls out of regional championships rather than run with bib number ’666′

 

As reported in depth by Lexington NBC affiliate LEX18, Whitley County High (Whitley County, Kent.) cross country runner Codie Thacker voluntarily forfeited her spot in a regional championship race after her coach drew bib number 666 for the runner. Thacker and her coach argued that she should be allowed to switch her number, but race officials refused the request.

Kentucky cross country runner pulls out of regional championships rather than run with bib number ’666′

In one of the strangest cases of purported religious beliefs intersecting with athletic performance, a Kentucky junior cross country runner voluntarily walked away from a chance to qualify for the state meet to avoid running with the bib number "666", which she said conflicted with her Christian beliefs.

Those officials would later deny that Thacker claimed she needed to change bib numbers for religious reasons, though the junior insists she was explicit about her motivation. To her, running with the number 666 on her chest would have signified a serious breach in her faith.

"I didn't want to risk my relationship with God and try to take that number," Thacker told LEX18. "I told them to mark out my name because it makes me sick just thinking that my name is associated with that number."

The result was a third straight season where the cross country runner has fallen just short of the state meet, even though she had aggressively trained for the regional championship race since June. Thacker had hoped to earn headlines for her performance on the trails. Now she's getting attention for something else entirely.

Perhaps the only person who wasn't stunned by Thacker's exit from the regional meet was her coach, Gina Croley, who was the first person to see the number assigned to the runner.

"I saw it and I was like, 'whoa,'" she said. "I don't think she will wear that number."

 

This is pure idiocy....it's a NUMBER

[sweet-a-kins]

 I didn't call HER Looney Tunes

However the people that taught her this ARE and she will be too if she doesn't realize it eventually

Wearing a number doesn't mean you are worshipping it and the Devil

all kinds of STUPID

Quoting tanyainmizzou:

Calling her Looney Tunes is name calling.

Simply because you disagree with her position doesn't make her anything other than a child that has a firm religious belief.

Quoting sweet-a-kins:

 Who name called?

This is idiocy, she has been TAUGHT it's against her religion anything to do with this number

THIS IS IDIOCY

Quoting tanyainmizzou:

Ah yes

Name call a child.

So caring.

 

 

 

[Roo1234]

We have entire buildings built without a 13th floor to accommodate the superstitions of a few.  It is sad that they didn't take her feelings into consideration, but if her faith is that important to her then a sacrifice has to be made if others won't work around it.  

I have to ask....Do you think she would have run the race if it had occurred on a Sunday?

[paganbaby]

Depends. Am I aware of it? Is her mother reading this cafemom post as we speak?

If I were, I'd have to understand that once you put yourself in the public eye, you're opening yourself up for public scrutiny; both good and bad.

Quoting tanyainmizzou:

Glad you don't care if someone online calls your child one for having a belief you have taught them.

Quoting paganbaby:

Children can be idiots too.

Quoting tanyainmizzou:

Ah yes

Name call a child.

So caring.

[tanyainmizzou]

Yep

Your manners about children just ooze from you.

Have a good day insulting a child.  I need to get the turkey roast in the crockpot and then go shopping for costumes.

Quoting sweet-a-kins:

 I didn't call HER Looney Tunes

However the people that taught her this ARE and she will be too if she doesn't realize it eventually

Wearing a number doesn't mean you are worshipping it and the Devil

all kinds of STUPID

Quoting tanyainmizzou:

Calling her Looney Tunes is name calling.

Simply because you disagree with her position doesn't make her anything other than a child that has a firm religious belief.

Quoting sweet-a-kins:

 Who name called?

This is idiocy, she has been TAUGHT it's against her religion anything to do with this number

THIS IS IDIOCY

Quoting tanyainmizzou:

Ah yes

Name call a child.

So caring.

 

 

[paganbaby]

I say, she should have flipped it upside down and went on with the race. But that's a good question too.

Quoting Roo1234:

We have entire buildings built without a 13th floor to accommodate the superstitions of a few.  It is sad that they didn't take her feelings into consideration, but if her faith is that important to her then a sacrifice has to be made if others won't work around it.  

I have to ask....Do you think she would have run the race if it had occurred on a Sunday?

[FromAtoZ]

We can think it is silly, we can not believe the way she does.

However, if calling a kiddo silly, looney tunes, idiotic and otherwise proves one is better..............you might want to think again.

Like I said, just another story to bash what some one believes.

Why some one even put this out there, regardless of who did it, is sad.

[futureshock]

lol

[Sekirei]

I think this is silly.. and I am glad that they stuck to their guns about it.

Either way, it looks bad on her .... -shrugs- but, eh, she stuck up for what she believes in, I guess

[lga1965]

If thinking anyone believes in that 666 thing, and I call them "loony toon", it's not going to make me feel better than they are.
Not running because of that number is based on superstition. It's unfortunate that she's letting superstition control her life instead of reality. I feel sorry for her.

Quoting FromAtoZ:

We can think it is silly, we can not believe the way she does.

However, if calling a kiddo silly, looney tunes, idiotic and otherwise proves one is better..............you might want to think again.

Like I said, just another story to bash what some one believes.

Why some one even put this out there, regardless of who did it, is sad.

[lga1965]

If thinking anyone believes in that 666 thing, and I call them "loony toon", it's not going to make me feel better than they are.
Not running because of that number is based on superstition. It's unfortunate that she's letting superstition control her life instead of reality. I feel sorry for her.

Quoting FromAtoZ:

We can think it is silly, we can not believe the way she does.

However, if calling a kiddo silly, looney tunes, idiotic and otherwise proves one is better..............you might want to think again.

Like I said, just another story to bash what some one believes.

Why some one even put this out there, regardless of who did it, is sad.