Summary: A 21-year-old University of Georgia runner, Aiden Dombrowski, was arrested Sept. 26 and charged with battery after allegedly driving more than 100 miles to Newnan, Ga., dressing in a high school jersey and ambushing a student at a cross-country meet. Witnesses say he attacked the runner with rocks; the victim fought back, leaving Dombrowski with a cut above his right eye. Dombrowski later changed clothes and surrendered to police, calling the incident a "prank." Authorities have not established a motive.
College Runner Allegedly Disguised As High School Athlete, Traveled 100+ Miles To Ambush Rival
Coweta County Jail; Facebook/Newnan High School
A 21-year-old college runner has been arrested after police say he traveled across county lines, disguised himself as a high school athlete and ambushed a student during a cross-country meet.
What happened: According to reporting by Fox 5 Atlanta, Aiden Dombrowski was arrested and charged with battery on Sept. 26 after allegedly driving from the University of Georgia campus in Athens—more than 100 miles—to Newnan, Georgia, where a Coweta County cross-country meet was scheduled the next day.
YouTube/FOX 5 Atlanta
Authorities say Dombrowski slept in his car overnight, put on an East Coweta High School jersey the following morning and slipped onto the running course. Witnesses told Fox 5 that he concealed himself near the course and waited until a particular high school runner—believed to be his intended target—appeared.
Investigators allege Dombrowski emerged from the woods carrying rocks and attacked the unnamed student. The young runner defended himself, leaving Dombrowski with a cut above his right eye; Dombrowski then fled the scene, according to witness accounts and reporting.
YouTube/FOX 5 Atlanta
The New York Post reports Dombrowski discarded the East Coweta jersey in his car and later changed into another high-school tracksuit before surrendering to police. Body-camera footage obtained by Fox 5 captured Dombrowski telling officers the episode was a "prank," and calling the other runner an "acquaintance."
Charges and background
Dombrowski was charged with battery. Authorities have not publicly established a motive for driving the long distance, sleeping overnight, dressing in a disguise and carrying out what appears to have been a planned ambush. Dombrowski previously ran for Northgate High School before enrolling at the University of Georgia; his NCSA athlete profile noted competitive goals, including ambitions to break a 15-minute 5K and a four-minute mile.
Sources: Fox 5 Atlanta; The New York Post; local police reports.
The investigation remains ongoing and police have not released further details about the identity of the victim or whether additional charges might follow.
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