Wrong-headed 'wish'

[Atticus]

Article on front page has some wishes for USA T&F. One of them is reactionary nonsense.

" If the U.S. would require a qualifying standard and a top three Trials finish for global team membership, suspense and excitement would return to the Trials as the competing athletes would sort it all out on the field of battle."

Error!
A top 3 finish mandate would hamstring our team and result in fewer athletes at the Championships. If any of the top three lack the standard, then we would send fewer that what we could have. We want to have a many there as we can get.

[Cooter Brown]

Has someone who has had to chase a mark ever medaled at the WC?

[TN1965]

Has someone who has had to chase a mark ever medaled at the WC?

Centro in 2011.

[aaronk]

Well, oh my, if a Top 3 and a Q mark makes the team, well, golly, maybe those SLUGS might have to actually run FAST!!

Prime example: Women's 10000 in 2012 Trials! Went out in 16:15, when a 31:45 was the Q!

[KevinM]

Most of the chasing over the last few years has been a result of the shortened IAAF qualifying window for events shorter than 10,000. The US has pretty much been the third-best mid-d/distance nation in the world during that period. It's a shame so many of the numbers fetishists around here can't open their eyes to that.

[Atticus]

It's not about chasing (which doesn't even exist any more). It's about a guy who goes into the meet with the top mark (a qualifier) and doesn't finish in the top 3, for whatever reason, and the guys who beat him do NOT have the qualifier. He goes, as he should.

[Dave]

Isn't this saying that an athlete would require top 3 finish with at least a qualifying mark in that competition? That would force people to bring their best games in most events. It wouldn't mean much in the sprints. The qualifying standard in the 100 ( 10.16 ) wouldn't even get passed the semifinals. The 1500, 5000, and 10000 would become real races.

[26mi235]

Isn't this saying that an athlete would require top 3 finish with at least a qualifying mark in that competition?

This is one of those things that sound reasonable on the surface but when applied to all events is absolutely silly. It could even wreck havoc in the 100. What if you face a 6mps head wind. Scratch the LJ, TJ, PV, maybe the 100, 200, possibly the 400, it would kill many of the distance races, etc. Less severe weather would do in a lot of events, with heat and humidity killing good marks in distance races on many occasions. The mark for the 10,000 is designed to be bettered once during the entire window, not during the race to determine the team. It also relates poorly to the conditions for racing in the WCs and OGs, where the primary consideration is competition, not marks.

[KevinM]

This is one of those things that sound reasonable on the surface but when applied to all events is absolutely silly. It could even wreck havoc in the 100. What if you face a 6mps head wind. Scratch the LJ, TJ, PV, maybe the 100, 200, possibly the 400, it would kill many of the distance races, etc. Less severe weather would do in a lot of events, with heat and humidity killing good marks in distance races on many occasions. The mark for the 10,000 is designed to be bettered once during the entire window, not during the race to determine the team. It also relates poorly to the conditions for racing in the WCs and OGs, where the primary consideration is competition, not marks.

Great points. Why don't people get that the Q standards are derived from performance lists that were developed in races that bear no resemblance to any championship race, anywhere (save the odd meet where another finalist acts as rabbit, e.g., Adil Kaouch)?

I would rather see a team composed of athletes who have shown their ability through fast marks (i.e., they made the Q standard), and racing in an un-paced environment at the USATF meet. Requiring both in the same race is nonsensical.

[gktrack]

Trials June 26-28 and can chase thru August 9, if I read correctly...
from T&FN homepage today...

http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2015/IAAF-World-Outdoor-Championships/Athlete-Info/Athlete-Selection-Procedures.aspx

"The top three (3) finishers, in Performance Rank Order at the Trials will automatically select themselves to the USATF team for the World Championships (the “Team”), provided that (a) each has, by August 9, 2015, achieved the applicable IAAF Qualifying Standard. If all three have, by August 9, 2015, achieved the IAAF Qualifying Standard then the fourth ranked order finisher shall serve as the alternate, provided that he or she has, by August 9, 2015 achieved the applicable IAAF Qualifying Standard. All finishers in events at the Trials, who have not achieved the IAAF World Championships Qualifying Standard for that event, may “chase” the standard after the Trials."

[Atticus]

Trials June 26-28 and can chase thru August 9, if I read correctly...

I like this, having read on. Unless the top three have the qualifier, they keep going down the list of 'finishers' to get three. If there are not three, ANY finisher can chase the standard till 8/9. If multiple people achieve the standard, their order at USATF determines who goes. I like The Chase, makes for an interesting post-USATF period and often results in some great marks.

[mal]

Its a long season, and anyone with real talent at that level gets plenty of opportunities to run fast. Get your fast times, and race at the championship. That strategy doesn't hurt any athlete. Championship races at the highest level are rarely slow.

[Atticus]

Championship races at the highest level are rarely slow.

Say what?!
Championship 1500, 5k, and 10K are NOTORIOUSLY SLOW!

[aaronk]

Say what?!
Championship 1500, 5k, and 10K are NOTORIOUSLY SLOW!

I second that emotion!

[Bruce Kritzler]

So, why isn't the steeple slow also ?