EUGENE, Ore. — Track officials rejected an appeal by Olympic 800-meter champion Athing Mu, who became tangled in a group of runners during U.S. qualifying heats and fell, losing her chance to defend her title.
Trainer Bobby Kersee said Mu was clipped by another runner on the backstretch of the first lap, causing her to drift to the left and fall to the ground.
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U.S. track and field officials reviewed footage of Monday night's race late into the evening but ultimately rejected the appeal. They did not provide details. Typically, a protest is upheld when there is clear evidence that one runner is impeding another. Incidental contact is considered part of a normal race.
Mu, who struggled to finish the race, will be eligible for the relay. She was part of the gold medal team in the 4×400-meter relay at the Tokyo Olympics.
Kersee said 22-year-old Mu was hit by a spike and suffered abrasions and injured her ankle in the fall.
He acknowledged the unforgiving nature of the U.S. system, which awards Olympic spots to the top three finishers in the elimination competitions but makes no exceptions for previous performances or Olympic champions.
“I've coached it, I've preached it, I've watched it,” Kersee said. “And that's another indication that no matter how good we are, we can leave some better athletes at home than other countries. That's part of our American way of life.”
