NYC public schools barred from state track meet over air quality —  but private schoolers allowed to run

New York City public school students were barred from competing in state track championships Friday due to poor air quality conditions, while private schoolers were allowed to race — and frustrated parents say the city doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

Dozens of the Big Apple’s top-performing high school athletes were forbidden from running at this year’s New York State Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Middletown, NY, on Friday and Saturday, city officials announced earlier this week.

But the haze from Canadian wildfires had cleared to an “excellent” air quality level of 21 AQI in the town, about 75 miles northwest of the Big Apple, by the event’s starting time of noon on Friday — as parents begged Department of Education officials to scrap the rule.

“It’s an issue of fairness,” said Sharon Just,  the mom of a sophomore who was forced to skip the event Friday. “It’s an incorrect decision and it’s reversible.”

At least 40 top-performing teen runners from 23 schools citywide have trained all year for a chance to make it to nationals, with some counting on it for a shot at a college scholarship, parents said.

Meanwhile, private school students and runners from other parts of the state were allowed to pound the pavement, parents said.

“It’s just not right to do this to the students,” said Just?. “It’s a very confusing policy that was made on Wednesday instead of letting [air] conditions play out…It’s not supported by data.”

Forecasts on Wednesday showed air quality levels were expected to improve dramatically by Friday, but the city officials and the Public School Athletic League failed to change the decision in time, parents said.

“There’s just so much work that goes into being an elite runner,” said the aunt of one high school athlete who had to skip the event. “It’s truly disappointing that a city policy would stop them in their tracks.”

“For seniors, it’s the culminating event of their high school career,” she added.

Parents now hope the city lifts the ban in time for the second day of races on Saturday, they said.

Earlier this week, organizers said they’ll cancel the event for all athletes  if the air quality levels reached over 100 AQI, which is considered unhealthy.

As of 3:30 p.m. on  Friday, the air quality in Middletown was 26 and rated “good,” according to airnow.gov.

Reps for Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Education didn’t immediately return The Post’s request for comment Friday.