the lunacy of NCAA field-event presentation

[gh]

I know the timeline on this perfectly, since I sat on the outer field and did the women's hammer yesterday (but the numbers are similar across all events).

12 throwers in flite 1: their 36 throws take us from 1:30 to 2:00

30-minute warmup for flite 2 takes us to 2:30

12 throwers in flite 2: their 36 throws take us to 3:05

15-minute warmup for the 9 best takes us to 3:20

their 27 throws take us to 3:45.

Total elapsed time is a Paula Radcliffe marathon: 2:15. The friends and family who filled the hammer area cared, but when you stage a never-ending competition like that in the main stadium, with the possibility of the winning jump/throw coming more than 2 hours before the end of the competition, who the heck among the common folk can follow that or develop any kind or rooting interest? Absolutely nuts.

rant off

[booond]

Re: the lunacy of NCAA field-event presentation

I know the timeline on this perfectly, since I sat on the outer field and did the women's hammer yesterday (but the numbers are similar across all events).

12 throwers in flite 1: their 36 throws take us from 1:30 to 2:00

30-minute warmup for flite 2 takes us to 2:30

12 throwers in flite 2: their 36 throws take us to 3:05

15-minute warmup for the 9 best takes us to 3:20

their 27 throws take us to 3:45.

Total elapsed time is a Paula Radcliffe marathon: 2:15. The friends and family who filled the hammer area cared, but when you stage a never-ending competition like that in the main stadium, with the possibility of the winning jump/throw coming more than 2 hours before the end of the competition, who the heck among the common folk can follow that or develop any kind or rooting interest? Absolutely nuts.

rant off

How do you fix it?

[bad hammy]

Re: the lunacy of NCAA field-event presentation

Flite? I thought it was flyt.

Field events are screwed either way - isolated outside or lost inside. Even with the best scoreboards and announcing crew its tough to keep up. Rhythmic clapping or ranting & ripping your shirt off are about only ways for field eventers to get folks to look over.

[gm]

Re: the lunacy of NCAA field-event presentation

One flight of 16 would fix that little wagon...

[aaronk]

Re: the lunacy of NCAA field-event presentation

Flite? I thought it was flyt.

Field events are screwed either way - isolated outside or lost inside. Even with the best scoreboards and announcing crew its tough to keep up. Rhythmic clapping or ranting & ripping your shirt off are about only ways for field eventers to get folks to look over.

The Women's HT started at 1:30.
The first track race was at 4.
The HT was finished before track began, so the folks had time to grab a hot dog and coke and move back to their seats.

(I've been to Hayward many times, and watched the hammer a lot (Lance Deal, Dawn Ellerbe!!).
One of my favorite field events!

BTW, it's spelled FLIGHT. 8-)

[Dave]

Re: the lunacy of NCAA field-event presentation

I know the timeline on this perfectly, since I sat on the outer field and did the women's hammer yesterday (but the numbers are similar across all events).

12 throwers in flite 1: their 36 throws take us from 1:30 to 2:00

30-minute warmup for flite 2 takes us to 2:30

12 throwers in flite 2: their 36 throws take us to 3:05

15-minute warmup for the 9 best takes us to 3:20

their 27 throws take us to 3:45.

Total elapsed time is a Paula Radcliffe marathon: 2:15. The friends and family who filled the hammer area cared, but when you stage a never-ending competition like that in the main stadium, with the possibility of the winning jump/throw coming more than 2 hours before the end of the competition, who the heck among the common folk can follow that or develop any kind or rooting interest? Absolutely nuts.

rant off

How do you fix it?

I would assert that it isn't particularly broken. People actually get caught up in what is happening. The competition builds and becomes more interesting.

10seconds for a 100 meters, 13seconds for the hurdles. There ain't a lot of time there to get caught up in it.