High School Runner Refuses to Race in Regional Championships Because of Her Religious Beliefs and Bib Number (Guess What It Is)

A Kentucky high school runner has refused to participate in a regional championship race she had trained all season for after being assigned bib number "666."

"I didn't want to risk my relationship with God and try to take that number," Whitley County High student Codie Thacker told WLEX-TV.

Codie Thacke. (Image source: Yahoo! Sports)

Thacker and her coach, Gina Croley, had reportedly asked officials with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association numerous times to change the number, but they declined to.

A spokesperson for the KHSAA told WLEX that they weren't aware the request was made because of religious concerns.

However, Thacker insists that is not true.

"I told them to mark out my name because it makes me sick just thinking that my name is associated with that number," she said.

Thacker won't race for the rest of the season now, but her decision is generating praise from her supporters.

"I couldn't have been more proud of her had she won the entire regional race," her coach said.

(H/T: Yahoo! Sports)

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