Athing Mu, the current women's Olympic 800m champion, faced a disappointing turn at the US trials in Eugene, Oregon, where she stumbled and finished last after falling in the middle of the pack just 200 meters into the race. Her unexpected setback means she will not be defending her title at the upcoming 2024 Paris Games. Instead, the spots for Team USA were clinched by Nia Akins, who secured first place, followed by Allie Wilson and Juliette Whittaker, who finished second and third respectively.
Mu's absence from the Paris Olympics dashes expectations for a rematch with Team GB's Keely Hodgkinson, who took silver behind Mu at the Tokyo Games when she was just a teenager. Hodgkinson, now a formidable contender herself, would have likely seen Mu as a significant rival in the upcoming competition.
In the men's 400m event at the trials, Quincy Hall staged an impressive comeback, overtaking 2022 world champion Michael Norman on the final stretch to secure victory with a time of 44.14 seconds. Norman, expressing disappointment with his performance, acknowledged making tactical errors during the race, which affected his finishing speed. Alongside Hall, Chris Bailey secured third place, earning his spot to compete in Paris, while 16-year-old Quincy Wilson's sixth-place finish positions him as a potential candidate for the relay team.
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