O’Fallon, Illinois, high school runner banned from state championships after charity race, sparking outrage [Video]

A high school freshman in O’Fallon, Illinois, is at the center of a growing controversy after being banned from competing in a cross-country championship. 

Fourteen-year-old Cole Deering’s passion for running isn’t just a hobby. It’s part of who he is. 

“I like running in the morning or the evening or on a cloudy day,” he said, adding that he loves running pretty much anytime. 

The O’Fallon Township High School freshman spends every free moment running with his cross country team. Running has become an outlet for Cole, who has autism. But recently, that love for the sport has landed him in the middle of an uphill battle.

“I’m pretty disappointed because recently I’ve been training pretty hard,” he said.

Over the weekend, Cole ran a race for Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, finishing …