Track Meet Selection Process

[ralmcg]

I would like to know about the selection process for competitors at major track and field meets. Do they accept resumes from unknown applicants? Do they accept competitors only by reference from agents, coaches, etc.? Does a lower-level employee of the meet organizer choose at least the lower-level competitors? Or do all the competitors get chosen by the meet director?

[gh]

Re: Track Meet Selection Process

Not to be difficult, but you need to clarify what you mean by "major" track and field meets. Major as in the Diamond League, or major as in....???

[ralmcg]

Re: Track Meet Selection Process

Not to be difficult, but you need to clarify what you mean by "major" track and field meets. Major as in the Diamond League, or major as in....???

Let's say the Diamond League. Not every competitor in the Diamond League is a superstar that is invited almost automatically.

[highjumpfan]

Re: Track Meet Selection Process

For the Diamond League or most competitions, I have to say three key words, Location Location Location. Meet directors have to fill out fields and if you are training near the competition and it costs them nothing more then maybe a hotel room, (if your agent has leverage ie: bigger name athletes) a small appearance fee plus a performance bonus is all it takes to get into the competition. Preference is usually given to local athletes as they sell tickets. But as they say being there is half the battle. Keep showing up and eventually they'll let you in.

[Ned Ryerson]

Re: Track Meet Selection Process

For the Diamond League or most competitions, I have to say three key words, Location Location Location. Meet directors have to fill out fields and if you are training near the competition and it costs them nothing more then maybe a hotel room, (if your agent has leverage ie: bigger name athletes) a small appearance fee plus a performance bonus is all it takes to get into the competition. Preference is usually given to local athletes as they sell tickets. But as they say being there is half the battle. Keep showing up and eventually they'll let you in.

Who on this list calls the Tri-State Area home?

http://www.diamondleague-newyork.com/en ... s-Archive/

[highjumpfan]

Re: Track Meet Selection Process

For the Diamond League or most competitions, I have to say three key words, Location Location Location. Meet directors have to fill out fields and if you are training near the competition and it costs them nothing more then maybe a hotel room, (if your agent has leverage ie: bigger name athletes) a small appearance fee plus a performance bonus is all it takes to get into the competition. Preference is usually given to local athletes as they sell tickets. But as they say being there is half the battle. Keep showing up and eventually they'll let you in.

Who on this list calls the Tri-State Area home?

http://www.diamondleague-newyork.com/en ... s-Archive/

For the record, their is a pole vaulter on the list who I know for certain does live in the tri-state area, but otherwise I did not get the home address list. Besides it's not about where you call home, it's about where you are training, so if you have set up camp for the summer in say Germany, and have an agent who is connected in Germany then it is much easier to get to competitions both big and small on a moments notice. I speak from personal experience.

[Ned Ryerson]

Re: Track Meet Selection Process

Looking at just the men, I think 2 or 3 might train in the NY area. The rest (and I'm sure there's the odd error here or there):

Rodgers - TX
Padgett - blanking
Mullings - FL
Patton - TX
Thomspon - LA
Bailey - Jamaica
Powell - Jamaica
Frater - Jamaica
Cartet - Jamaica

Blake - JAM
Edward - KS
Atkins - FL
I Williams - CA
Kimmons - TX
Armstrong - FL
Dixon - CA
Barnes -
Eledman -

Gay - TX/FL
Spearmon - TX
X Carter - FL
Wariner - TX
Larry - CA
Martin - CA
Neville - TX I think
Callendar - JAM I think

L Merritt - NC
Quow - drawing a blank
Brown - BAH
Henry - KS
A Williams - blank
K Clement - CA
Chambers - JAM

Robinson - CA
Reed - CAN, I believe
Lalang - KEN/GER
Smith - KS
Brannen - MI
Shaw - OR
Lomong - CO last I heard
J Johnson - TX
Emrani - NY
Krum - AZ

Manzano - TX
Van Deventer - NEB/RSA
Legesse - ETH
Van der Westhuizen - NEB/RSA
Myers - MI
Solares - TX or CA
Milne - maybe CAN, can't remember
Bumbalough - still CO?
Sherer - OR?
Webb - VA at the time
Lukezic - CO
Summerside - AR
Joseph - VA

Kogo - KEN
Lagat - AZ
Gebremeskel - ETH
Merga - ETH
Gebremariam - ETH
Merga - ETH
Fikadu - ETH
Chelanga - VA
McCormick - ?
Pilkington - maybe NY
A Rono - CA
H Lagat - TX
Barrios - MEX
Boit - AR

Trammell - GA
A Merritt - TX
Brathwaite - KS, somewhere midwest
Hicks - can't remember
Payne - CA I think
Phillips - JAM I think
Miller - ?
Sands - ?
Mitchum - ?
Aina - ?

D Williams - FL
B Johnson - ?
Griffiths - JAM but could be other
McCoy - ?
Tard - ?
Ferguson - CA

Jackson - IL
Culson - TX?
McFarlane - JAM I think
Tinsley - TX
Taylor - GA
Carter - somewhere warm
Buckley - JAM I think

Many of the throwers come from CA, especially from the OTC in Chula Vista.

[tandfman]

Re: Track Meet Selection Process

Who on this list calls the Tri-State Area home?

Which tri-state area are you referring to? There are several.

[ExeterAcademy1978]

Re: Track Meet Selection Process

Ned, I think you misunderstood what the poster was saying. For the lower level athletes (ie people not ranked top 20 in the world for their event or a related event), their selection will typically happen because of their agent (and which other athletes the agent works with and the meet director wants) and because of their location. For example, look at many of the meets in EUROPE, where certain European athletes regularly act as fillers in the outside lanes, are in the B-heats, or are in the less premiere race (ie a 200m if there was a 100m being contested in a Golden League meet).

The primary way to get into a meet is to run fast (or throw far, jump high/far, etc.) and have the meet director want you. That will trump most other things. After that it is various agent/sponsor/training group connections and then finally, which country you're from and how close you are to the meet.