Who here thinks of the Pan Am's as a major?

[tandfman]

What DOES chap me, however, is the sometimes suspectly prepared teams we send to the World Cup.

Since the IAAF started putting good prize money into the World Cup in 1998, that has become less of an issue than it once was.

[tafnut]

Here’s the 2002 WCup men ‘disappointments’. Considering that each person represented the ‘Best’ of the USA, I think we could have done better in a 9-man field.

100 4. Drummond
200 4. Clay
400 5. A Harrison
1500 9. Lassiter
3K 8. Asmeron
HJ 7. Leeper
DT 6. Setliffe
JT 9. Clever
1600R 2 USA

[mike renfro]

If you take a look through these lists of medalists, it is clear that, for the most part, over the last 20-25 years the US is definitely not sending its 'A' team.

Except in '87. TAC made participation in PAG mandatory for inclusion in WC.

[bad hammy]

[quote=mike renfro]

If you take a look through these lists of medalists, it is clear that, for the most part, over the last 20-25 years the US is definitely not sending its 'A' team.

Except in '87. TAC made participation in PAG mandatory for inclusion in WC.[/quote:3ehakxs5]
I noticed that the '87 team was relatively strong. Now I know why . . .

[Quarter Horse]

Event, Name, Time (US Time Ranking)

100 Drummond: 9.97 (#5)
200 Clay: 20.27 (#6)
400: A. Harrison: 44.48 (#2)
1500: Lassiter: 3:36.73 (#3)
3K: Asmeron: 7:51.93 (#2)
HJ: Leeper: 2.32 (#3)
DT: Setliffe: 63.74 (#7)
JT: Clever: 75.86 (#5)

I think their performance AT the WCup may have "disappointed" you, but whether or not they were qualified to be there is a different story. What are we supposed to do if numbers 1, 2 or even 3 elect not to compete? Not send a team at all? This is the only sport out there where being ranked in the top 5 or even 7 in the U.S. isn't good enough. So let me guess, this is who you would have liked to have seen:

100: Tim Montgomery or Mo Greene
200: Shawn Crawford or Gatlin
400: Byrd, Pettigrew?
1500: Krummenacker
3K: Matt Lane
HJ: Clinger or Hemmingway
DT: Casey Malone
JT: Greer

[tafnut]

What are we supposed to do if numbers 1, 2 or even 3 elect not to compete? Not send a team at all? This is the only sport out there where being ranked in the top 5 or even 7 in the U.S. isn't good enough.

Since the IAAF started putting good prize money into the World Cup in 1998, that has become less of an issue than it once was.

Obviously it's still an 'issue".

[piaba]

i just think there's more to the world of athletics than the olympics and the WC. if those 2 events are the only ones you follow, or that matter, then there's not much left , is there?

so yes, i do think the pan am, the world cup and the CW can be quite exciting, and considered major.

[SQUACKEE]

[quote="piaba"]i just think there's more to the world of athletics than the olympics and the WC. if those 2 events are the only ones you follow, or that matter, then there's not much left , is there?

1ST- I believe 99% of the people who post here would stop dead in their tracks if they were out driving and happen to see a highschool x-country or track meet going on.

2ND- If both the Pan am games and the Olympics are both called " majors" then the word doesnt have much meaning. Dont you think that meets the have 1/2 the world and meets that have all of the world deserve differant labels?

[EPelle]

Agree with Squackee on both points, A and B.

[bad hammy]

so yes, i do think the pan am, the world cup and the CW can be quite exciting, and considered major.

We'd all find these meets exciting. But for most of us, 'major international championship' (getting back to what got this whole thing going, claiming that Asafa Powell has now won a major international gold) means OG and WCh.

[tandfman]

Event, Name, Time (US Time Ranking)

100 Drummond: 9.97 (#5)
200 Clay: 20.27 (#6)
400: A. Harrison: 44.48 (#2)
1500: Lassiter: 3:36.73 (#3)
3K: Asmeron: 7:51.93 (#2)
HJ: Leeper: 2.32 (#3)
DT: Setliffe: 63.74 (#7)
JT: Clever: 75.86 (#5)

I think their performance AT the WCup may have "disappointed" you, but whether or not they were qualified to be there is a different story. What are we supposed to do if numbers 1, 2 or even 3 elect not to compete?

Clay, Lassiter, and Setliff were our national champions. Regardless of their season-end ranking, they earned their places on the team and they elected to compete.

[piaba]

Agree with Squackee on both points, A and B.

ok, pelle, read the above. he made point 1 and point 2. :roll:

ok, squawk, i get your point about half of the world not competing in the CW and PanAm. but i guess i'm just saying that there may not be a word that describes the magnitude of these games between "major" and "minor". if you are saying only 2 events (olympics and WC) are major, then we should come up with another word to describe these sort of 2nd=tier events that are better descriptive -- and please don't say "medium" or "middle".

me, i'm just excited if they ever show any TF on tv... so i don't only care about the big'uns.

[SQUACKEE]

Agree with Squackee on both points, A and B.

ok, pelle, read the above. he made point 1 and point 2. :roll:

ok, squawk, i get your point about half of the world not competing in the CW and PanAm. but i guess i'm just saying that there may not be a word that describes the magnitude of these games between "major" and "minor". if you are saying only 2 events (olympics and WC) are major, then we should come up with another word to describe these sort of 2nd=tier events that are better descriptive -- and please don't say "medium" or "middle".

me, i'm just excited if they ever show any TF on tv... so i don't only care about the big'uns.

God bless you track fan! . I love the CWG games. There is something very special about this meet that is hard to describe. Its a huge meet and very important. Maybe we can say the olympics and world champs are 1st tier majors and CWG'S are 2nd tier majors with no disrespect intended to any of the atheletes especially.

[tlb747]

Is not the Pan Am's similar to the European, African, and other (Regional) International Championships? I voted yes. Surprise! Surprise!

[Pego]

Are you guys telling me that you never think about Rosslyn Range, Adhemar Ferreira da Silva, Lou Jones, Jim Lea and Rod Richard? Mexico City 1955.

ops: da Silva is the only name I recognize.