2012 U.S. Olympic Trials, Day 3 Recap, Eaton Sets WR of 9,039, Bryan Clay lives Olympic ideal, Jeter Wins 100m, Madison second, Dead heat between Tarmoh & Felix, note by Larry Eder

Ashton Eaton, 2012, Oly Trials, photo by PhotoRun.net

Day Three, was June 24, 2012. The excitement was still there, as Ashton Eaton had set the world record for the decathlon, 9,039, the night before. In front of 22,000 track fans, Ashton had run 4:14.47 in the 1,500m to give Eugene it’s fourth Decathlon world record (first set by Rafer Johson, then two by Bruce Jenner in the 1970s).

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Bryan Clay, 2012 Oly Trials 110m hurdles,
photo by PhotoRun.net

Ashton Eaton celebrated with all the living US gold medalists in the decathlon: Milt Campbell (1956 gold, 52, bronze), Rafer Johnson (1960 gold, 1956 silver), Bill Toomey, (1968), Bruce Jenner (1976), Dan O’Brien (1996), Bryan Clay (2008, 2004 was bronze), plus last two living sons of Jim Thorpe (1912), were all there.

Bryan Clay had seen his dream of making a third team dissolve with the high hurdles, where he ran poorly, and was at first disqualified, and then reinstated. However, the reinstatement came after the discus, where, devastated, Bryan had thrown three fouls. Clay showed his class, and completed the decathlon. A true Olympian.

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Carmelita Jeter, Tianna Madison, 2012 Oly 100m final,
photo by PhotoRun.net

In the women’s 100 meters, Carmelita Jeter and Tianna Madison were together at 60 meters. Jeter was sore, with a back issue, and then, she felt Tianna Madison start to drop back, and for Jeter, that party was over. Jeter ran 10.93 to the 10.97 of Madison.

Jeneba Tarmoh, photo by PhotoRun.net

In third, Jeneba Tarmoh was named third at first, but, after a review of the photo, a dead heat was declared between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh. A perfect storm ensued, where USATF would announce when a decision would be made, then the USOC took several days to make a decsion on how to break the dead heat. It was not until late in the day on Sunday, July 1, that Jeneba Tarmoh pulled out of the match race, to the consternation of many.