Jeneba Tarmoh concedes Olympic spot in 100 to training partner Allyson Felix
Jeneba Tarmoh conceded the final Olympic team berth in the 100-meter dash to Allyson Felix on Monday, canceling their scheduled runoff and leaving Felix in position for a big medal haul at the London Games.
Tarmoh told Stephanie Hightower, president and chair of USA Track and Field, that she would not contest the tie that was declared after both were timed in 11.068 seconds in the Olympic trials 100-meter final June 23.
“I Jeneba Tarmoh have decided to decline my 3rd place position in the 100m dash to Allyson Felix,” she said in an email sent by her agent, Kimberly Holland. “I understand that with this decision I am no longer running the 100m dash in the Olympic Games and will be 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.”
The runoff was to be nationally televised from Hayward Field, site of the just-completed U.S. Olympic track and field trials. It would have matched Felix, a two-time Olympic silver medalist in the 200, against Tarmoh, who competed in her first senior-level world championships last year and won a bronze medal in the 200. They train together in Los Angeles with coach Bobby Kersee.
Source: Chicago Tribune
