In this handout photo provided by the USTF, Jeneba Tarmoh (bottom, lane 1) and Allyson Felix cross the finish line at exactly the same time in the women's 100 meter dash final during Day Two of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 23, 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by USTF/Getty Images)

It seems that USA Track and Field wasn’t prepared for the result of the women’s 100-meter dash on Saturday. Because it was the Olympic Trials, the top three finishers would earn a spot on the Olympic team — the only problem was there were four. Allyson Felix and Jeneba tied for third, registering times of 11.068 seconds. The potential  tie-breaker could play out as a runoff or a coin toss if the sprinters choose not to compete in another race. The Chicago Tribune has more on this unprecedented situation:

Even if the situation involving two athletes whom Kersee coaches is apparently unprecedented, the fact that officials never foresaw it, quickly botched it and dithered over resolving it seemed once again to underline the sad truth that the only amateurs left in Olympic sports are those who run them.

The delays left the sport open to suggestions there was an effort to ensure a resolution would favor one of U.S. track’s stars, Allyson Felix, even if evidence shows that officials merely mishandled the matter.

The best way to decide whether Felix or Jeneba Tarmoh gets the final U.S. spot in the 100-meter field at the London Olympics is a runoff race. And that seems the likeliest outcome in a seat-of-the-pants scenario USA Track & Field announced Sunday evening.

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