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Chaos Erupts: Crashes, Cramps, and Accusations in Explosive Olympic Track Qualifiers

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Crashes, cramps and accusations run rampant during heated Olympic track and field qualifying session


The Olympic qualifying rounds on Wednesday turned chaotic with unexpected incidents disrupting the competition. At the Saint-Denis stadium in France, the men’s 5,000-meter heats and the high jump event witnessed unprecedented disturbances.

The first men’s 5,000-meter heat saw Britain’s George Mills and France’s Hugo Hay clash, leading to a significant pileup. Elbows exchanged, and four runners went down. After the race, Mills confronted Hay, accusing him of causing the crash. Despite finishing 18th, Mills, along with the others affected, was moved into the final after a referee’s decision.

In the second heat, a cameraman inadvertently walked onto the track, nearly causing another disruption. Although the runners adjusted their paths, American contender Abdihamid Nur fell during the final stretch, finishing last. Meanwhile, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen successfully qualified first, showcasing resilience less than 15 hours after a disappointing 1,500-meter finish.

Drama continued in high jump, involving Gianmarco Tamberi and Mutaz Barshim, who shared gold in Tokyo. Barshim suffered a cramp mid-event, prompting Tamberi to offer assistance until medical help arrived. Both athletes advanced, but their physical conditions raised concerns for the final.

Tamberi’s tumultuous Olympics included losing his wedding ring in the Seine and being hospitalized for a probable kidney stone. He managed to clear 2.24 meters despite setbacks and secured his place in the finals.

The women’s 100-meter hurdles saw another mishap when Australia’s Michelle Jenneke tripped over the third barrier. She continued in the wrong lane but finished, advancing to the repechage round. Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn led the qualifiers with 12.42 seconds.

In smoother events, Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi topped the men’s 800 heats with 1:44.64, and Poland’s Maria Andrejczyk led in the women’s javelin. The Spanish team triumphed in the race walk mixed relay.

Wednesday night is set for more excitement with medals in the women’s pole vault, men’s discus, men’s 400, and men’s 3,000 steeplechase. Additionally, Noah Lyles will compete in the 200 semifinals, aiming for a double victory after his recent 100-meter win.