Speculative Question

[Randy Treadway]

How many people who competed this past week at the USA Championships in Carson will compete at the Helsinki WC's for a team other than the United States?

I'm not looking for specific names (unless you know), just a guess as to the count.

My guess: 1
(and I have no idea who it might be)

Did anybody notice any foreign consulate scouts in the stands with binoculars, circling people in the meet program with foreign sounding names? It wouldn't be the first time!

Obviously (without USATF's consent) it would have to be somebody who has not appeared in a U.S. singlet in international competition for the last three years...

[Jon]

Re: Speculative Question

Well I don't think USA have to worry about Qatar stealing all the 1500m guys....

[westcoasttiger]

Re: Speculative Question

Qatar could buy a few sprinters from the US I am betting who are just on the outside looking in.

[Randy Treadway]

Re: Speculative Question

We'll trade them five sprinters for two steeplechasers- how's that?

[tandfman]

Re: Speculative Question

>Obviously (without USATF's consent) it would have to be somebody who has not appeared in a U.S. singlet in international competition for the last three years...,

As I understand it, under the new IAAF rule, that wouldn't be good enough unless the person already had dual citizenship in the other country. Otherwise, they'd have to wait until three years after they acquired their new citizenship.

[Randy Treadway]

Re: Speculative Question

I'm taking it for granted that other countries can declare dates of effective citizenship just about whenever they want, including retroactively. The U.S. State Department can ignore it, but the IAAF would probably recognize it.