It's always great when a Santa Clarita Valley athlete finds success at a high level.

And certainly, Allyson Felix's inclusion on the United States' 100 meters team is something we should all be proud of.

But the way it went down certainly leaves something to be desired.

What could have been a highlight moment for Track and Field quickly turn sour early Monday morning when Felix's training partner, Jeneba Tarmoh, pulled out of a scheduled run-off for the final spot on the team.

On a personal level, it's easy to feel sorry for Tarmoh.

The thought of coming so close to the Olympics (Tarmoh was even announced as a qualifier after the 100-meter final before the ruling was overturned and ruled a dead heat) and missing out is certainly difficult to imagine.

But in the same sense that we do not feel bad for a running back who's touchdown is overturned, or a batter who's home run is ruled foul after video replay, we certainly should not feel that Tarmoh was "robbed," as she put it.

Video replay clearly shows Felix and Tarmoh tied, and as a result, the best way to settle the tie was on the track.

But in the end, the tie was settled in an email Tarmoh sent to USATF officials in which she backed out of the race.

Tarmoh can talk all she wants about heart break and feeling robbed, but the 22-year-old missed an opportunity to help her sport.

Track and Field doesn't get much recognition outside of Olympic years, and this one race, that would have lasted less than 11 seconds, would have drawn the attention of the nation's sporting fans.

Instead, Tarmoh will be remembered for depriving us of that moment.
That is her right, but it just feels wrong.

Felix will go to the Olympics. As will Tarmoh, as part of the 4x100 relay pool and an alternate, but in the end, why should the USATF want to include an athlete on its relay team who would rather quit than run?

For her part, Felix echoed the disappointment many fans have expressed.
In a statement reported by the Associated Press, Felix said "The situation has beendifficult for everyone involved. I had accepted the USATF decision and was prepared to run at 5 p.m. I wanted to earn my spot on this team and not have it conceded to me so I share in everyone's disappointment that this runoff will not happen. All I can do now is turn my focus to London."