Sprinters Agree on Runoff to Determine Olympic Berth
By MARY PILON and KEN BELSON
Published: July 1, 2012
EUGENE, Ore. — After a week of waiting amid a swirl of rumors, Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh chose a Monday runoff to decide who would claim the final spot to represent the United States in the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics. Their decision ends one of the stranger finishes in track history, one that involved two runners who train together, share a coach, run in the same races and finished tied with an Olympic berth at stake.
Discussions involving the runners, their coach, USA Track and Field officials and others began Saturday and continued on Sunday. It was announced Sunday afternoon, on the last day of the Olympic trials, that the runners had agreed to the runoff, which will be held Monday night.
The result is a compromise that allows USA Track and Field, the sport’s national governing body, to send a final roster of team members to the United States Olympic Committee on Monday, while also giving Felix and Tarmoh an additional day to rest after their 200-meter final Saturday night. Though a winner-take-all race, presumably in front of a smaller crowd, may lessen somewhat the pressure on the athletes, it may be offset by NBC Sports Network’s decision to televise the race live; coverage begins at 8 p.m. Eastern.
The Amazing Spider-Man is off and flying. 
EUGENE, Ore. — After a week of waiting amid a swirl of rumors, Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh chose a Monday runoff to decide who would claim the final spot to represent the United States in the women’s 100 meters at the Olympics. Their decision ends one of the stranger finishes in track history, one that involved two runners who train together, share a coach, run in the same races and finished tied with an Olympic berth at stake.
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