The new CEO of USA Track and Field was hoping for calm at his first Olympic trials in charge.
Instead, Max Siegel found controversy.
At least people are paying attention, Siegel said Friday.
Siegel has been hearing from acquaintances who knew next to nothing about the sport, each offering their opinion about how to break the third-place tie between Allyson Felix and Jeneba Tarmoh in the 100 meters. It's a situation that's now been hanging over the competition for the last week.
A resolution is around the corner. After the 200-meter final on Saturday, the sprinters will decide between a runoff - a winner-take-all race - or a coin flip to determine the final spot at the London Games in the 100. One can also give the spot to the other.
''The exposure is great,'' Siegel said.
Some might argue it's been a distraction, too.
Because of the flap, the action on the track has taken a back seat to the drama away from it.
''Anytime you try to do what's in the best interest of all the stakeholders, you have to ignore the noise,'' said Siegel, who started in May. ''We've been consulting with everyone impacted by the decision and put a process in place to allow them to complete their competition obligations and give them a fair amount of time to resolve it.''
The USATF didn't have any kind of procedure in place to break the dead heat between Felix and Tarmoh. Immediately after the 100 race Saturday night, the group hastily scrambled to put together some options for the athletes.
The sprinters have elected to not say anything until after the 200. That way, they can focus on making the team in that event.
As it is, both are already eligible to be on the 400-meter relay in London.
Felix and Tarmoh technically have until Sunday, when the trials end, to decide how to resolve their tie.
However, their coach, Bobby Kersee, is hoping USATF will give his athletes more time - not so much to make a decision, but when a runoff would take place should that be the option they choose.
The organization wants to have the spots on the team finalized by Sunday. But USATF doesn't have to submit the list of names to the United States Olympic Committee until Tuesday.
That's why Kersee is advocating that should his athletes decide on a runoff, the race be held on Tuesday. It would give Felix and Tarmoh more time to recover.
