by Larry Eder
Common sense is not that common anymore. That is why we asked James Dunaway, our editor at American Track & Field to offer some sensible solution on the 100m third place imbroglio in the women’s final….Here is is.
There is in sport, as in other areas of life, a concept known as “the common law.”
The common law can be superseded by written law — as in weight-lifting
where a tie is decided in favor of the lifter who weighs less, or at the
Olympic Games, where both Felix and Tarmoh would be awarded bronze
medals.
But when there is no written law, the common law should prevail.
Since the earliest days of track and field as an organized sport, ties
have been broken by a run-off.a jump-off, or a throw-off. That is the
common law of track and field.
A run-off should be held between Ms.Tarmoh and Ms. Felix during the
Trials, to be held at a mutually agreed-on time, and if they cannot
agree on a time it should be set by the meet referee.
James Dunaway
