Flip to win: American Olympic trials After 24 hours of frenzied and secret negotiations, officials from USA Track & Field announced fresh regulations for how the runners - and all other runners who have the misfortune of ending in a dead heat - can determine who will qualify for the Olympics and who will get the fourth spot, the ultimate consolation prize. The basics are this: the athletes will be given a choice between breaking the tie with a coin toss or a runoff. If they agree on which option they prefer, that method will be used; if there is a disagreement, a runoff will be held. That's right, the land of the free is employing a form of arbitration most commonly used in playground disputes as a way of deciding who gets to go to the Olympics this year. USA Track & Field is very specific about the coin which must be used if Felix and Tarmoh opt for the coin toss (and why wouldn't they?) to decide their athletic futures. [A] United States Quarter Dollar coin with the image of George Washington appearing on the obverse hub of the coin and an Eagle appearing on the reverse hub of the coin. This apparently negates any of the 'America the Beautiful' series of quarters currently in circulation. It's George Washington, first President of the United States, or nothing. That is, unless the pair decide to have a runoff. This is made all the more complicated by the fact that both will also be competing in the 200m. If one were to win the 200m title, they might decide to exit the 100m competition altogether. In the meantime, the coin toss/runoff decision awaits.