Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

[gh]

With T&FN's full editorial support, the nation's major meet directors are protesting the dropping of the mile as an event with which you can qualify to the Olympic Trials. See story on front page.

[tafnut]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

So for the Indoor WC it's OK (Bob Hersh post and link) and the OG it's not? They need to get their act together.

[gh]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

Hasn't been OK for the OG for many a year; we're talking OT here.

[Jackman]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

It is time for Masback to go. He constantly criticized Cassel(?) during his reign. The truth is that US distance running has gotton a lot worst under Masback's leadership.

The mile is the main event in Track and Field. Every other event follows in importance.

[gh]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

Masback has ZERO to do with the setting of the standards for the OT. That rests with the Track & Field Committee. USATF (unfortunately, I'd say) isn't like the pro sports leagues with a czar at the top who can get just about anything he wants. There are a lot of checks and balances on the CEO of USATF.

[Dutra]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

>It is time for Masback to go. He constantly criticized Cassel(?) during his
>reign. The truth is that US distance running has gotton a lot worst under
>Masback's leadership.

The mile is the main event in Track and Field. Every
>other event follows in importance.
>

Which is why they don't run the mile at the Olympics - the biggest track meet of all for more than a century.

You can't pay for this stuff.

[Brian]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

Trials qualifier and MORE!

If you want John and Jane Q. Public's attention, you have to pull them in with "barrier breaking" efforts. Nothing does this better than 4 laps under 4 minutes, even in this modern day.
As far as non-English speaking countries, I can't help but believe they would get with the excitement, too, given time.

[kuha]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

I've said it before: the American public doesn't give a hoot about the 1500 meters. They DO have some real connection to the mile. We can gripe all we want about the public's "need" to get metric-savvy, but they simply aren't, and clearly won't be anytime soon. To not have the mile on our programs this year simply guarantees that no one outside the hardcare faithful will pay ANY attention.

A little lesson. In the course of some recent historical research, I came across an article in a professional journal titled "Delays in Adopting the Metric System--Who is to Blame?" The article begins: "It is not enough that the American Medical Association should have adopted the metric system: the medical colleges must teach it. Children taught French are not expected to speak German; likewise physicians taught only the Gothic [sic!] measures cannot be familiar with the metric." Etc. It goes on and on in this vein, pleading for the popular adoption of the accepted international standard. The date of this journal is September 1880.

[Pego]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

The non-English speaking countries have no problem with the mile.

[Smoke]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

Oh please! The distance is not the issue and everyone knows it! Even Garry knows this. All USATF is doing is conforming to the recognized distance of the 1500. Further, it is time the US distance runners stepped up their game and stopped laying back on the "magical" 4 minute barrier. It is insignificant past high school, and nothing to run under 4 minutes in international competitions!
The mile needs to remain the novelty event that it is, but who cares if it qualifies anyone for the OT? That is a moot issue and has no bearing on whether or not you should run it at say Pre. The mile can still be on the schedule for El G to chase his wr, and for some hs kid to run down Webb. That is the appeal anyway, not qualifying!

And on another level, meet promoters stop blaming USATF for your lack of marketing ability! I cannot recall a time the mile was billed as a OT qualifying event! It is time for some new blood and some imagination to push track into the households of America. This is not 1970!!!!!!

[Powell]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

If you want John and Jane Q. Public's attention,
>you have to pull them in with "barrier breaking" efforts. Nothing does this
>better than 4 laps under 4 minutes, even in this modern day.
As far as
>non-English speaking countries, I can't help but believe they would get with
>the excitement, too, given time.

For the record, a mile is NOT 4 laps - it's slightly over 4.02

And I still fail to understand everyone's logic. You're saying the rest of the world can easily adapt to imperial distances, but the US will never adapt to metric ? What am I missing here ?

[kuha]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

We're saying that the American public is clearly reluctant (to put it mildly) to adapt to metric--after a century or more of encouragement--and that they thus do not genuinely understand, or care about, metric distances. It's that simple. We can call them idiots all day long, but doing so won't make them pay any additional attention to "our" sport.

[tafnut]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

I'm sure everyone IN the sport would prefer metrics - so much simpler, T&FN would not have to run dual lists; there's tons of reasons why we SHOULD go metric, except for one teensy problem. The FANS, being this business's consumers, have made it clear, despite many 'educational' programs, that they prefer imperial, so that's that (for now). Because so many college (and even HS) meets are measured metrically now, this imperialism will weaken and die in the next 30 (!) years. Until then, we're stuck, and the USofA is economically big enough to push its weight around - ergo, The Mile.

[Jackman]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

The 1500 lacks the prestige of the mile.

[Conway]

Re: Getting Mile Back As OT Qualifier

The mile, or lack of the mile at track meets is NOT the reason for the decline in attendance at meets … Nor is it responsible for the poor status of American distance runners … Nor is it responsible for individuals not being able to make the Olympic qualifying standards in the 1500 …

Track went metric in the US back in the 70’s … Those that were fans then saw a sport that was thriving in this country and have remained fans … They saw the likes of Ryun, Liquori, Padilla, Marsh, Scott , Shorter, and Pre … They saw US middle and distance running at its best … Going metric didn’t deter them from going to meets … Track continued to thrive in this country (as did the mile/1500) for at least a decade following the move to metric distances …

Track started its decline in this country in the 90’s … Athletes started avoiding meets that didn’t pay good money … Meets started dying … Publicity got bad, lackluster and almost non-existent … The rest of the world started getting better at races above 800 meters and the US got left behind … And none of these things had anything to do with the metric system !!!!

As for the mile being the main event of track and field, it historically has been ONE of the glamour events of the sport … But hardly the main event … If I am not mistaken center stage at the Olympics and World Championships (The biggest events in track and field) is usually reserved for the 100 meters …. Drawing the fans, the press/media and the attention of the world … And whether at NCAA’s, a Golden League meet, or even a HS championships, the crowd hushes and people rise to see who is going to be crowned as the fastest man and woman … And going metric didn’t hurt THIS event … Distance changed … Times changed … And everyone adapted … Athletes, fans, and public !!!

So let’s not blame the lack of the mile at meets for any of our woes regarding the middle distances …