Runners react to Crazy 800m final Waterfall start at Olympic Trials

Jul 06, 2016

Monday's 800m final at the U.S. Olympic trials had one of the strangest starts in recent memory. Craig Engels of Ole Miss was let into the final on protest, allowing 9 men to race in the finals. Instead of putting 2 men in 1 lane the USATF decided to use a double waterfall start. Safe to say that not everyone was happy about the decision:

I can't believe the men's 800 at the Olympic trials is a waterfall start. Literally can't believe it.
-- Mark Wieczorek (@wizzo800) July 5, 2016

A waterfall start is like the way the XFL started a football game. Chaos.
-- Liam Boylan-Pett (@liam_bp) July 5, 2016

Double waterfall for the final of the men's 800????
-- Ryan Martin (@rymar800) July 5, 2016

The 800m final running a waterfall is the perfect metaphor for the collapse of T&F
-- Kyle Merber (@TheRealMerb) July 5, 2016

@eSowinski You started in the same lane, but he got a 20m head start! pic.twitter.com/eMEEh4mifo
-- Mark N Jackson (@TraderJaxon) July 6, 2016

@TraderJaxon I tried to argue that but to no avail...onward and upward
-- Erik Sowinski (@eSowinski) July 6, 2016

Two-Time Olympic 800m runner Nick Symmonds reacted with multiple tweets:

Word is, the men's 800m final tonight will be a waterfall start. Dear @usatf this isn't a damn high school meet. #SMH #Eugene2016
-- Nick Symmonds (@NickSymmonds) July 5, 2016

Next up, the @usatf men's 100m final featuring a waterfall start. #WatchTheElbows
-- Nick Symmonds (@NickSymmonds) July 5, 2016

Waterfall start confirmed. Several people volunteered to be in same lane to avoid this. More @usatf incompetence. pic.twitter.com/WxHfi9o1I9
-- Nick Symmonds (@NickSymmonds) July 5, 2016

Jesse Williams poked fun at the decision:

@NickSymmonds we doing a waterfall start tonight? #Springfield800
-- Jesse Williams (@jesjamdub) July 6, 2016