A University of Georgia student is facing serious allegations after reportedly impersonating a high school cross-country runner and attacking a competitor with rocks during a race.
Aiden Dombrowski, 19, allegedly carried out the assault at the Coweta Cup Cross Country Championship held at Newnan High School on Saturday, according to local police.
It’s said that Dombrowski made the 110-mile journey from the University of Georgia in Athens to Newnan, Georgia, the night before the race. He then spent the night sleeping in his car, perhaps preparing for his unusual plan.
As the race began the following morning, he wore an East Coweta High School cross-country uniform, eventually making his way through the woods to surprise a Newnan High School runner.
Witnesses reported seeing Dombrowski with rocks but said he ended up pushing and striking the runner instead. The attack was described by onlookers as reminiscent of a scene from a Netflix thriller, as noted by a local news outlet.
The victim fought back, managing to scare Dombrowski away from the racecourse and into the woods.
During his escape, Dombrowski changed his clothes, quickly ditching the uniform in his vehicle before he gave himself up to the authorities, who were actively searching for him.
Interestingly, when he surrendered, he was reportedly wearing a tracksuit from another school.
In his conversation with police, Dombrowski downplayed the incident, labeling it a prank and denying that he attacked the runner, claiming they were just “acquaintances.”
One police officer asked him whether he knew the athlete at all. Dombrowski responded, “I know him, I’m not friends with him,” adding there was “no bad blood.”
Following the alleged incident, Dombrowski was charged with battery and taken to Coweta County Jail.
His mugshot shows him with a visible gash around his right eye, which he reportedly received during the incident.
Police later revealed that Dombrowski was not a student at East Coweta High School and didn’t clarify how he obtained the uniform. Though he previously attended nearby Northgate High School, he aspired to improve his 5K time in college, aiming to break the 15-minute mark, according to his college recruiting profile.
Interestingly, he does not appear to be listed on any rosters for the cross-country or track teams at the University of Georgia.
