Run-off Is Only Fair Tiebreaker for Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh

The United States Women’s 100-meter qualifying race is currently in the midst of an epic controversy. According to Jonathan Baum of Yahoo! Sports, Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh must decide to either hold a run-off or flip a coin to determine who will get the third and final spot on the Olympic team.

These two women crossed the finish line at the exact same time of 11.068 seconds, but it was initially determined that Tarmoh placed ahead of Felix. A photo revealed that the two competitors were exactly even.

According to Baum, the runners have multiple options to determine who will be on the 2012 London Olympic roster, but a run-off is realistically the only one that makes sense.

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To break the tie, Felix and Tarmoh will be given a choice between a coin flip or run-off. Should both competitors choose the same option, that option will be used to determine the third spot on the Olympic team. Should one competitor choose run-off but the other a coin flip, a run-off will be held.

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That is quite confusing, but it gets even more complicated if these women decide not to make a choice by July 1, which is when the trials end and also when the winner must be determined.

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If both competitors refuse to make a choice, the spot then will be determined by coin flip. If one competitor chooses either option but the other competitor refuses to make a choice, the preference of the first competitor will determine the tiebreak method. 

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Coach Bobby Kersee, who trains both Felix and Tarmoh, agrees that a run-off is the only acceptable way for this controversy to be settled.

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"Nine times out of 10, most athletes aren't going to want to flip a coin," Kersee told the Associated Press. "Would you go to the Super Bowl and after two overtimes or what have you, have the referees take both coaches to the middle of the field and say, 'We're going to flip to see who wins the Super Bowl?' I don't see that."

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It’ll be interesting to see who wins the run-off, if they hold one, as both women will be running the 200-meter qualifier and it may come down to endurance over speed during the tiebreaker.

Regardless, it’s going to be an exciting race and not something you see every day.