Athing Mu falls at US athletics trials, will not defend Olympic 800m title
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Athing Mu reacting in the women's 800m final at the US Olympic Team Track & Field Trials at Hayward Field on June 24. She finished last after a fall.
PHOTO: AFP
EUGENE – Athing Mu got tangled up with her opponents, tripped and fell, and jogged across the finish line in tears.
That was the story of the day on June 24, as she lost the chance to defend her 800m title in Paris after her dreams came crashing to the ground in Eugene, Oregon, following her last-placed finish at the US Olympic track and field trials.
The trials had largely gone to script on the first three days, but Mu’s calamity stunned the crowd at Hayward Field.
The 2022 world champion and hot favourite tripped around the 200m mark and, while she bravely carried on, she had no chance of catching up to the field.
Nia Akins (1min 57.36sec) came home first, while Allie Wilson (1:58.32) and Juliette Whittaker (1:58.45) also earned their spots in Paris.
“It’s tough to see, especially for someone like Athing, who you know could win a gold medal,” 400m hurdler Rai Benjamin said from the sidelines, as quoted by NBC News.
“And you just – you feel for her, because it’s like, she’s supposed to be there, you know?
“But that’s just USA Track and Field. Like, it’s the hardest team to make, and anything can happen here.”
Meanwhile, Quincy Hall upstaged Michael Norman to win the men’s 400m. Hall put on the best performance of his career as he chased down 2022 world champion Norman after the final turn to win in 44.17sec.
Norman paid the price for going out too quickly, losing steam down the home stretch to finish in 44.41sec. Chris Bailey took third in 44.42sec.
“I know I can run a lot faster than what I did today. Just a poorly executed race. Kind of got a little too excited during the moment, so I paid for it at the end,” the runner-up said.
Meanwhile, Grant Holloway sent a message to his rivals with a blazing-fast opening performance in the 110m hurdles, winning his heat in a world-leading 12.92sec.
The three-time world champion took silver at the Tokyo Games, but made it clear he would accept nothing but gold in Paris.
“I just wanted to put pressure on the field, let everybody know that I’m still on top,” he said.
Anna Hall closed out her heptathlon triumph with a superb 2:04.39 in the 800m and collapsed to the track in celebration.
She will look to add an Olympic gold to her world championships silver and bronze.
The trials resume on June 27 with 100m winners Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson expected to race in the heats of the men and women’s 200m. REUTERS
