Jeneba Tarmoh, PLEASE do not be bullied into the run-off! You are an OLYMPIAN.

All that's missing is the thrown sword by Tarmoh.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsqJFIJ5lLs

I think the point re IAAF rules is that a perfectly acceptable and well-thought out solution was right there for the USATF to apply, but they went ahead and defined their own rule from scratch, after the fact. Both the rule and the timing were not good. Tarmoh does not have a right to 3rd - a tie is a tie - but she definitely has reason to call out USATF for their poor practices.

Seems to me there should be conclusive evidence to overturn someone's Olympian qualifications, like in other sports. To me the original call should stand. There was not enough proof to claim a tie.

super** wrote: The IAAF rules are clear on a tie. Coin flip,period.

So, in the Olympics a tie for the win would use a coin flip to determine the Gold medalist? No.

Tarmoh needs to suck it up and embrace the run off and get herself in a mindset of winning. If she can't beat felix in a runoff she sure as heck can't compete for a medal in the london final. Take this as an opportunity to get over another hurdle towards olmpic glory.

As for Felix, you might say giving up her spot would be the high road but I think if Felix did that, it could be one of her biggest regrets in her life. I believe Felix would get a higher place in the 100 in at London then Tarmoh and for sure it will shock her body to be ready for that ever elusive 200 meter gold. She needs to fight for this spot. In my mind after a lot of thought she just can't hand over this spot.

super** wrote:

I agree with you on no rules on team selection, different countries use different rules. But the US rules are the first three across the line

A coin flip can't make someone the third person across the line.

You are a genius, wonder how we missed that..The rules are clear on a tie for first place, two gold medals, etc I said I was simplifying the rules to explain what should happen in a case such as this one. I was not explaining what happens in all cases of ties apart from this one where a move to the next level was on line... Just read the rules they are online

*zuper*star* wrote:

super** wrote: The IAAF rules are clear on a tie. Coin flip,period.

So, in the Olympics a tie for the win would use a coin flip to determine the Gold medalist? No.

All of you people who think Felix should give up her spot are delusional. You do not become a world class athlete by giving into things when faced with a little adversity. If Tarmoh does not want to run for a once and a lifetime opportunity then I do not want her representing our country.

Yes she had her emotions played with thinking she won the race but so did Felix thinking she got bumped. The only way you could keep me from racing was if both my legs were broken and I probably still would try and compete. The Olympics come ONCE every FOUR years...you never know when it can be your last games so you have to seize the opportunity.

In my opinion Tarmoh and Felix have no chance to medal in the 100, but the benefit of letting Felix working on her start by running rounds in the 100 will only benefit her chance of bringing home the gold in the 200

I honestly thought since they were training partners and Allyson Felix won the 200 in the fastest time in 14 years (as well as being in the relay pools), that Felix would give the spot to Tarmoh so that she could also attend the Olympics individually.

*zuper*star* wrote:

super** wrote: The IAAF rules are clear on a tie. Coin flip,period.

So, in the Olympics a tie for the win would use a coin flip to determine the Gold medalist? No.

No, but it would determine advancement to the finals if two people tied for the last spot in the semifinals of the 100m. Ties in the final round are not broken.

Anyway, Tarmoh is not participating in the runoff, according to SI's Tim Layden.

But you left off this part of the rule from the USATF handbook: 2. In case of a tie for any place in any final, including first place, the tie shall remain.So whatever they do next, it will not change the order of finish in the race. They will forever be tied in the official results.So now they are just working on a fair way to decide who gets to run. A coin flip would be fair, the odds are exactly 50/50 for each athlete. It could be argued that a runoff is also fair since it would be in the hands of the athlete rather than chance.

This was a smart move by Tarmoh. Not participating leaves open the possibility of litigation against USATF for her spot based on the timer's initial ruling. The only reason he called for review was to cover his ass, not to make sure he got it right. He knows that no one else is as experienced as he is and therefore better able to make the call. USATF will try to drag their feet to prevent a court ruling until it's too late so I hope Tarmoh's agent gets a good attorney.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

Anyway, Tarmoh is not participating in the runoff, according to SI's Tim Layden.

Should Michael Phelps, Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin give up their spots in a few of their swim races since they are scheduled to swim around 7 events?

This is sports its decided on the track and in the pool

HC wrote:

This was a smart move by Tarmoh. Not participating leaves open the possibility of litigation against USATF for her spot based on the timer's initial ruling. The only reason he called for review was to cover his ass, not to make sure he got it right. He knows that no one else is as experienced as he is and therefore better able to make the call. USATF will try to drag their feet to prevent a court ruling until it's too late so I hope Tarmoh's agent gets a good attorney.

Mr. Obvious wrote:

Anyway, Tarmoh is not participating in the runoff, according to SI's Tim Layden.

That's dumb. Yeah, the USATF was a bit clownish in how they handled things but she is not going to win a lawsuit against them.

Congrats, Tarmoh didn't get "bullied" into the runoff.

Now what? Are you going to tell her to sue?

What a great country we live in...you don't like something and you sue.

Way to kill all the empathy people had for you. Once and lifetime opportunity flushed down the toilet.

HC wrote:

This was a smart move by Tarmoh. Not participating leaves open the possibility of litigation against USATF for her spot based on the timer's initial ruling.

I think she'd have a hard time with a lawsuit with the statement she gave to the USATF:

"I Jeneba Tarmoh have decided to decline my 3rd place position in the 100m dash to Allyson Felix. I understand that with this decision I am no longer running the 100m dash in the Olympic Games . . . "