EUGENE, Ore. — Disaster happened in the first lap of the women’s 800-meter final at the U.S. Olympic track and field trials at Hayward Field.

Defending Olympic champion Athing Mu got tangled up with competitors, tripped and fell to the track. The spectators inside the stadium let out a huge gasp as she hit the ground. By the time Mu regained her footing, she was in last place.

The other competitors continued to run as Mu trailed far in the back of the pack.

“We fear when she is in the middle of the pack because of her long loping stride that she may fall to the track,” NBC track and field analyst Sanya Richards-Ross said on the broadcast. 

Nia Akins ended up finishing the 800 final in first, running a 1:57.36. Allie Wilson placed second at 1:58.32 and Juliette Whittaker came in third at 1:58.45.

Mu, showing good sportsmanship, continued to run well out of position and finished in last place with a time of 2:19.69. After Mu finished, she exited the track visibly emotional.

The trials marked the 2024 debut for Mu, who hadn’t competed since September 2023. She was bothered by a hamstring injury that delayed the start of her 2024 season.

In the preliminary round of the 800, Mu was noticeably rusty. She finished third in her heat when she ran a 2:01.73, but easily qualified. Mu showed improvement and won what was a dramatic 800 semifinal that featured Michaela Rose getting out to a big early lead and Kate Grace falling at the finish line.

Unfortunately for Mu, she was the one who fell to the track in the final and it cost her a chance to defend her gold medal in Paris.

At the Toyko Olympics, Mu became the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the 800 since Madeline Manning did it at the 1968 Mexico City games.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.