EUGENE: Reigning women`s Olympic 800 metres champion Athing Mu will not defend her title at next month`s Paris Games after suffering a dramatic fall at the US trials in Eugene, Oregon on Monday.

The 22-year-old, one of the sensations of the pandemic-delayed 2021 Tokyo Games, crashed to the track at around the 200m mark in the final at Hayward Field.

Mu, who was also a member of the US` victorious 4x400m relay team in Tokyo, crossed the finish line in tears after failing to make up ground following her tumble.

The agonising race highlighted the unforgiving nature of the US Olympic track and field trials, one of the most competitive meetings in world athletics outside of a major championship.

Only the top three finishers of each event qualify for the Olympic squad, which does not take into account other races or performances throughout the season.

The US 800m trio in Paris will be headed by Nia Akins, who won in 1min 57.36sec, with Allie Wilson second and Juliette Whittaker third.

In other events on Monday, Quincy Hall put on the best performance of his career as he chased down 2022 world champion Michael Norman after the final turn to win the 400m in 44.17.

Norman paid the price for going out too quickly, losing steam down the home stretch to finish in 44.41.

Chris Bailey was third in 44.42 sec, while 16-year-old schoolboy Quincy Wilson missed out on an automatic berth in Paris after finishing in sixth place.

Anna Hall closed out her heptathlon win with a superb 2:04.39 in the 800m and collapsed to the track in celebration. Hall will look to add an Olympic gold to her world championships silver and bronze, with Chari Hawkins and Taliyah Brooks traveling to Paris as well.

World indoors silver medalist Cole Hocker won the men`s 1,500m in 3:30.59 and will be joined on the team by Yared Nuguse (3:30.86) and Hobbs Kessler (3:31.53).

Elle St. Pierre held off Elise Cranny down the home stretch to win the women`s 5,000m in a meet record 14:40.34.-Agencies