Stris team secures preliminary injunction against NCAA for Boise State athletes

Yesterday, Colleen Smith, Jacqueline Sahlberg, and Priya Jupudi led a nine-hour evidentiary hearing against the NCAA in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho on behalf of four Boise State cross country and track and field athletes fighting for the opportunity to compete. The NCAA sought to bar Landon Helms, Kaiya Robertson, Jayda Bushay, and Nanette Novak-Klotz from competing in their cross country and/or indoor track and field seasons under its “Five-in-Five” eligibility rule (Bylaw 12.6). This case is one of many challenges to the rule pending nationwide.

This morning, Judge David C. Nye granted their motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction, finding the athletes likely to succeed on the merits. The order prohibits the NCAA from enforcing the rule against them or imposing retroactive penalties on the athletes, their coaches, or Boise State for allowing them to compete.

The victory followed an extraordinary effort by the litigation team. After the team filed suit, the Ninth Circuit clarified the governing antitrust law, requiring the team to quickly adapt its strategy, identify and retain an economic expert, and develop and present expert testimony on an accelerated timeline. The team worked tirelessly to build the evidentiary record and prepare for a contested hearing, with the athletes’ eligibility hanging in the balance.

The Court issued its ruling ahead of today’s 3:00 p.m. cross country team-selection deadline, and the impact is immediate: Kaiya and Nanette can now race in tomorrow’s PAC-12 Championships.

Read the Court’s order here.