100m Drama at the Olympic Trials

The U.S. Olympic Trials of track & field have been nothing short of spectacular these past 10 days, but one thing stuck out like a sore thumb. June 23^rd was the women’s 100m finals. The top 3 finishers would qualify for the U.S. Olympic team, while the 4^th place finisher would be an alternate and/or relay runner. The first and second place qualifiers were decided easily, with Carmelita Jeter in 10.92, and Tiana Madison in 10.96. It was the third and final spot which caused drama that would last for over a week. Training partners and friends Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh were “tied” for third in the 100m with a time of 11.07. It was decided originally that Tarmoh had taken the third spot, but much later after the conclusion of the competition that the result was considered a “dead heat,” and a tie breaker would need to be decided before the end of the Olympic Trials. Pictured below is the instant moment both competitors hit the line, and it was decided that they could not be separated on time.

 

Jeneba Tarmoh (front), and Allyson Felix both tied for

third in the women’s 100m, considered a “dead heat”.

It is the first time in U.S. Track & Field history that a tie has occurred, and apparently, no tie-breaker procedure was ever developed. So the USATF governing body had to meet and decide on what the proper measures to break a dead heat. So June 24^th, the tie-breaker procedure was announced:

“

In case of a tie, the following procedure shall be used for breaking a tie for the final qualifying slot in a running-event final in which a U.S. National Team or Olympic Team is being selected:

1.       If either athlete declines his or her position on the National Team/Olympic Team, that athlete will be named the alternate and the other athlete will assume the final available position.

2.       If neither athlete declines their position, they will be given the option to determine the tie-breaker via coin toss or by run-off.

a.      If both athletes choose the same option, that option will be utilized as the tie-breaker.

b.      If the athletes disagree on the tie-breaker, the tie will be broken by a run-off.

c.      If both athletes refuse to declare a preference regarding the method between a run off and coin toss in regards to how the tie is broken, the tie will be broken by coin toss.

”

So that’s decided, but what wasn’t decided at the time was what the athletes would do. Bobby Kersee, coach of both Tarmoh and Felix pleaded USATF not to make a decision until after the 200m, which both athletes were competing in. The 200m went thought, which Allyson Felix winning and running a PB 21.69, and Tarmoh failing to qualify. Last night (7/1) the athletes met and it was decided that the two were going to do a run-off for the third and final spot, set to air live on NBC Sports at 8pm EST. As of today, however, Tarmoh had conceded her spot to Allyson Felix, ending the tie-breaker. She would now be the alternate for the 100m and could be called upon to run the relay at the Olympic Games.

This is quite a mouthful to be honest. I have a lot of opinions favoring why both athletes deserve this spot. It would’ve been Tarmoh’s first Olympic Games at age 22, and that would have been a great experience for her competing individually in the biggest stage of them all.

Allyson Felix now has her chance to compete in a 100-200 double, which will help her chances in winning what she calls her “baby,” the 200m. She has a new PB of 21.69, and currently the fastest time in the world, and the 100m will definitely help her start in the 200m at the Olympics.

All in all, Allyson and Jeneba have gone through 6 rounds of racing, and a 7^th would just add to the strain. I feel the drama has affected both athletes all around, and Jeneba wanted it to all end. I feel as if she deserved that spot though. She was declared the third place finisher, and it should have stuck like that. You can’t always get what you want I guess.

Ato Boldon will be live at 8pm on NBC Sports announcing the result of this.