USA Track & Field via Associated Press
The third-place finish of the women's 100-meter final from a photo-finish camera, shot at 3,000-frames-per-second, during the U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials in Eugene, Ore. on June 23.
OHN POWERS’S article “US track and field body botched situation” (Sports, July 4), which described how track and field officials mishandled the tiebreaker in the women’s 100-meter race between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh, recalls a personal experience.
In 1960, I finished in a tie with Bobby Cons for the third American spot in the marathon, based on two tryouts.
The US Olympic Committee asked me for my unform size. I received a letter from Richard Nixon congratulating me on making the Olympic team.
But I was left off the team without explanation in favor of Cons, and John Kelley was added to the team though he had not qualified because he had not finished the first tryout.
USA Track and Field did hold a 16-mile race in New York for the Olympic marathoners four days before the team left for the Games, but would not use it as a runoff. I finished second.
Athletes were not consulted. There was much confusion and bitterness over the process, as there is today. Officials should have been prepared this time.