Texas A&M sprinter Jeneba Tarmoh is in the middle of a little controversy at the US Olympic trials at Eugene.
Even with all the modern technology to time a 100-meter dash, Tarmoh and her Nike teammate Allyson Feliz tied for third Saturday in the finals, and that means really tied, at 11.068 seconds. There was no means to break the tie mechanically. The third-place finisher is on the US Olympic team and the other is an alternate.
It will be decided by either a run-off of a coin flip. If both runners agree to the same tie-breaker method, that one will be used; if the disagree on the method, a run-off will happen, if neither delares a preference, a coin flip will be used.
Most observers believe they’ll agree to a run-off and it will happen sometime before the end of the trials next Sunday.
So it’s been decided that there will either be a run-off at the end of the trials, or if neither runners wants that, a coin will be flipped.
Most observers say the run-off is likely.
Aggie javelin thrower Sam Humphrey’s finished second in the prelims on Saturday and will try to earn his spot on the Olympic team tonight in the finals.