Judge Ferris proposed the deduction while the debris station was still closed.
“Contestant Kellan entered a marked zone assigned to another team,” he told the scoring committee. “He interrupted his own run and interfered with the exercise. I recommend an additional penalty under the course boundary rule.”
Kellan sat at the end of the table with his score card. Maren, captain of Tali’s team, sat beside Corin. Tessa had brought the limited medical summary Tali had consented to share. Sera held the inspection reference and a copy of the team sheet. Eli stood behind them, where the committee had allowed one observer from Kellan’s team.
The boundary rule was printed on a board at the entrance: contestants must remain within their assigned route unless directed by an official or responding to a marked rescue objective. The debris course instructions described an objective to retrieve a case and reach the finish. A separate page in the general rules said contestants should report an immediate hazard and assist when safe to do so.
Ferris pointed to the first page. “The rescue objective was not activated for his team.”
Maren pointed to the second. “Our contestant was trapped under a falling weight. He reported the hazard and assisted.”
