Memorial head track coach rob Starr said that Memorial was the host school for the track meet on April 2, 2025. He added that the team would be down certain coaches because of the responsibilities that come with being the host school
Due to that, he enlisted some of the throwers, who are typically the leaders, including Austin and Hunter Metcalf, to help, saying the throwers are usually in charge of setting up the tents.
Starr said he sent a text to Austin Metcalf that day that he needed to step up and help.
Starr said that heading into the district meet, he was a little upset with Austin Metcalf. At a previous meet, he said Austin Metcalf threw and then left early to go fishing. He actually kicked Austin Metcalf off the team, but they talked and he let him back on.
The coach said there was never a rain delay that day and Memorial athletes were mostly under the tent, though some other schools’ athletes went back to their buses.
Starr had to leave to get a crockpot from a coach who was waiting in concessions for him around 10 a.m. He heard a commotion, so he started hustling to see what happened, dropping the crockpot and starting to jog. Starr said he jumped a fence and tried to get back to the tent.
Coach testifies he found Metcalf with “a hole in his chest”
“I’m thinking, ‘Man there are no coaches by my tent,'” Starr said on the witness stand. “I come over there… and my memory is kind of shaky, but what I do see is Austin on the ground and his face is purple, and he has a hole in his chest.”
Holding back tears, Starr said everyone was screaming his name. He said Hunter said, “Coach Starr, do something!”
The coach testified that he was told Karmelo Anthony “did it.” He hopped over the gate and approached Anthony, and stopped him.
“It’s surreal, and it wasn’t violent”, said Starr. “He said, ‘He put his hands on me,’ and he was hysterical.”
Starr says he (Starr) got really upset, walked away and threw his hat on the ground. He then went over to Austin Metcalf and put his hand on his leg as the coaches were praying.
Starr said he then went to Hunter Metcalf, who was hysterical, and he prayed with him, adding that at that point it rained hard for a minute and he knew Austin Metcalf was gone.
Austin Metcalf’s father, Jeff Metcalf, sat in the courtroom, wiping away tears.
The prosecution passed the witness to the defense.
