A marked man, happily
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EUGENE, Ore. -- Track and field rules say a runner finishes when any part of the torso breaks the tape (or passes the electric eye used in big-time meets).
That is why runners lean at the finish. It is why Christian Smith dove headlong in the final of the men’s 800-meters Monday, hoping that would get his shoulders to the finish ahead of those of Khadevis Robinson, who also dove.
This was not an exaggerated lean that turned into a tumble, which happened to Smith in a high school meet. This was a planned dive that gave Smith the third Olympic spot by 6/100ths of a second.
It also left him was with abrasions (like rug burns) on his arms and knees and cuts on his head, shoulder and hip.
‘I hope one of them leaves a scar,’ Smith said Tuesday. ‘Then I will always be reminded of the race.
‘This one [the shoulder] has the best chance. I don’t mind if they all scar.’
-- Philip Hersh
