Jeneba Tarmoh Declines Run-Off in 100M, Gives Up Olympic Berth
2012 London Summer Olympics
Omaha, NE
Jeneba Tarmoh became the first athlete to surrender a possible Olympic berth, refusing to a run-off that will determine a spot on the U.S. team to the 2012 London Games.
"I Jeneba Tarmoh have decided to decline my 3rd place position in the 100m dash to Allyson Felix," Tarmoh said in her e-mail message to USA Track and Field.
Tarmoh's decision leaves her as an alternate for the event. "As an alternate I understand that I will be asked to run if another 100m runner decides not to for personal reasons, and/or on the 4x100m relay," she said.
Tarmoh and Allyson Felix finished in a dead heat in the finals of the 100 meters at the Olympic trials, behind Carmelita Jeter and Tianna Madison in the 100 in the Olympic trials June 23.
Earlier, Tarmoh was unofficially declared as third-place finisher but the race was declared a dead heat upon further review by chief photo finish judge Roger Jennings. The USA Track and Field, the sport's governing body, had no protocol when it comes to dead heat finishes.
At first, the organization said it will use a coin toss or a run off to decide the third and final member of the 100-meter team that will see action in London before it announced Sunday that the two tracksters had agreed to a run off.
But the plan broke down after Tarmoh withdrew.
"We are disappointed that Jeneba has changed her mind regarding her position on the Olympic Team," said Stephanie Hightower, president of USA Track and Field. "We all worked hard to reach a consensus on the tiebreaker, but we know that Allyson, Carmelita and Tianna will represent Team USA well."
"The situation has been difficult for everyone involved. I had accepted the USATF decision and was prepared to run at 5 p.m. I wanted to earn my spot on this team and not have it conceded to me, so I share in everyone's disappointment that this runoff will not happen," Felix said in a statement.
Vince Anderson, one of Tarmoh's coaches when she ran at Texas A&M, said the runner felt that she was wronged in this situation.
"There's a lot of downside to running off," Anderson said. "She has the most to lose since she was declared third, and she just wants to stand up for herself and what she thinks is right."
Anderson personally examined the photo at the finish line, saying that it "favored Jeneba by the smallest of margins."
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