By rule

The winner of the overall high school discus competition was one of two entrants—a boy from Russellville or Rock's friend Patre, a 43-year-old nurse from Little Rock.
Both had throws of exactly 170 feet and at first were declared co-champions, but that was before the Russellville coach protested. He claimed that his thrower should have won since his longest throw landed marginally further away than Patre's, or, to be exact, one-eighth of an inch.
By rule, according to event and meet directors, the championship was consequently declared vacant since the the final result was posted under protest.
"That's the rule," the event director said. "We can't change it now."