Brandon Hochbein doesn’t understand it.

The Freeport senior was cruising along Thursday in the 300-meter hurdles at the WPIAL Class AA Northern Qualifier at Shady Side Academy. He was running side-by-side with twin brother Dylan — as they have been virtually all season in the event — when Brandon clipped a hurdle and sent it toppling over partially into the next lane.

Brandon Hochbein finished second in the event, right behind Dylan, but was disqualified because it was ruled the hurdle impeded the competitor in the next lane.

“I kicked the hurdle with my lead leg,” Brandon said. “It didn’t cross my mind that I’d be disqualified.”

The runner in the next lane, Jeremy Spicher of Riverside, sidestepped the fallen hurdle and finished sixth, Brandon said.

But according to Freeport track and field coach John Gaillot, Brandon Hochbein was disqualified because Spicher had to break stride.

“We went through the appeals process,” Gaillot said. “They ruled he interfered when he knocked over the hurdle.”

Brandon Hochbein had the third best time in the state in the event.

Dylan Hochbein has the best time.

“The rule says he has to trip or fall for me to get disqualified,” Brandon said. “He didn’t trip or fall.

“I don’t think it crossed their mind how much this impacts me.”

It wasn’t the only hiccup of the night at Shady Side.

A thunderstorm delayed the event for nearly an hour. When it began, the FAT timing system wasn’t functioning.

In the middle of the girls 200-meter run, the power failed, casting the entire track in complete darkness.

The WPIAL decided that because of the interruption, all 16 runners would advance to the championship meet Thursday at Baldwin.

“The entire meet was a disaster,” Brandon Hochbein said.

It turned out well for several area competitors, however.

Dylan Hochbein also won the long jump and the Yellowjackets’ 1,600-meter relay team of Brandon Hochbein, Dylan Hochbein, Kevin Lynch and Rob Reichenbaugh also took first place.

Ian Miller won the pole vault for Freeport.

On the girls side, Zoe Pawlak placed first in the javelin.

Following are the Butler County Area Class AA qualifiers for the WPIAL Track and Field Championships, which will be held Thursday at Baldwin:

Boys

3,200 run: 6-Noah Bowser (Freeport) 9:48.39; 110 hurdles: 2-Dylan Hochbein (Freeport) 15.10, 8-Michael Tomlin (CWNC) 17.31; 100 dash: 5-Jake Sarver (Freeport) 11.5, 7-Luke Kennedy (Freeport) 43.44; 400 run: 2-Sam Mager (CWNC) 52.73, 7-Ian Miller (Freeport) 54.17; 400 relay: 7-Summit Academy (Isaiah Freeman, Ray Guillaume, James Mosche, Khalil Miranda) 45.65; 300 hurdles: 1-Dylan Hochbein (Freeport) 40.25; 800 run: 2-Rob Reichenbaugh (Freeport) 2:00.33, 7-Kevin Lynch (Freeport) 2:06.93; 1,600 relay: 1-Freeport (Brandon Hochbein, Dylan Hochbein, Kevin Lynch, Rob Reichenbaugh) 3:27.27; 3,200 relay: 2-Freeport (Johnathan Asay, Kevin Lynch, Alec Parker, Rob Reichenbaugh) 8:33.34

Shot put: 3-Bobby Jendrejewski (Freeport) 46-2½; Discus: 3-Bobby Jendrejewski (Freeport) 46-2½; Javelin: Anthony Aulicino (Freeport) 138-3; High jump: 5-Brandon Hochbein (Freeport) 5-10; Long jump: 1-Dylan Hochbein (Freeport) 21-1, 6-Brandon Hochbein (Freeport) 20-6; Pole vault: Ian Miller (Freeport) 11-3

Girls

3,200 relay: 8-CWNC (Jessica Cannon, Katelyn Dudash, Riley Drouin, Mia Miller) 11:15.04; 100 hurdles: 8-Victoria Delk (Freeport) 17.27; 1,600 run: 3-Rylee Kopchak (CWNC) 5:13.49; 400 run: 8-Zoe Soilis (Freeport) 1:03.85; 400 relay: 7-Freeport (Katlyn Biondo, Brenna Kloes, Kylie Shiring, Zoe Soilis) 53:24; 800 run: 3-Kim Mixon (Freeport) 2:27.65; 200 dash: *11-Brenna Kloes (Freeport) 28.34; 3,200 run: 3-Rylee Kopchak (CWNC) 11:44.83; 1,600 relay: 2-Freeport (Brenna Kloes, Kim Mixon, Kylie Shiring, Zoe Soilis) 4:14.31

Javelin: 1-Zoe Pawlak (Freeport) 118-9; High jump: 6-Abby Rummel (Freeport) 4-8; Triple jump: 7-Abby Rummel (Freeport) 32-5

*16 runners advanced because of power failure during running of the event.