IAAF World Relays Bahamas 2017

[GHM]

100 days left to World Relays in Bahamas. Tentative schedule can be at IAAF site, https://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-relays.

In today T&F News you notice that 4x400m race will be mixed race, link is as follows, http://jamaica-star.com/article/spor...f-world-relays . It is mentioned that only men and women race are eliminated (IAAF site shows both men and women heat and final scheduled). This change is on the top of eliminating men and women distance medley .

I am wondering if IAAF is short on money (inviting less counties and specifically African teams) or want to make this more sprint relay type championship.

[AS]

Removing 4x4s eliminates a major incentive for many countries to attend - the qualifying pathway to the 'real' WChamps/OG. The 'novelty' distances are fun for some and can be used to give up and comers some champs experience, but they don't qualify anyone for anything.

[Powell]

Does this mean WC qualifying will now be by time only? As of now, the relays are missing from the entry standards listed on the WC page.

[norunner]

The German federation has already released their qualification criteria for London and they seem to think top 8 in Nassau is one way to qualify for WCs. I thought they had inside info from the IAAF, but you obviously can't use mixed races for 4x4 qualification.

[gh]

the timetable on the IAAF site lists M, W and X 4x4s

[OneWay]

Mixed relays, nothing but a circus with the IAAF as the lead clown.
There are many other ways to bring attention to the sport and to revamp a sport that is not attracting youth viewership. This, however, is nothing short of nonsense.

I am sure FIFA, NBA, NFL, ICC are looking on with envy that we beat them to the punch.

[aaronk]

Love to see the US Women go sub-8:00 in the 4X800!
We have more sub-2 women than ever to choose from!
Should be quite doable!

As for the other distance relays, they'll happen----as always---at the Penn Relays!
Those Collegiate races are sometimes better than the pro's!

[wineturtle]

http://jamaica-star.com/article/sports/20170114/mixed-gender-4x400m-make-senior-debut-iaaf-world-relays

Jamaica Star seems to think no M&W 4x400 also

[gh]

from the IAAF page

19:30 M 4x200 Metres Relay Heats
20:00 W 4x100 Metres Relay Heats
20:27 M 4x400 Metres Relay Final B
20:38 W 4x400 Metres Relay Final B
20:49 M 4x800 Metres Relay Final
21:12 W 4x400 Metres Relay Final
21:30 M 4x200 Metres Relay Final
21:47 W 4x100 Metres Relay Final B
21:56 M 4x400 Metres Relay Final
22:14 W 4x100 Metres Relay Final
22:30 X 4x400 Metres Relay Final

[Guest]

Love to see the US Women go sub-8:00 in the 4X800!
We have more sub-2 women than ever to choose from!
Should be quite doable!

It's only been done 12 times and not since 1993. Between 1976 and 1993 8 Soviet or Russian teams, 1 from GDR, 1 from Ukraine, 1 from Lithuania, and 1 Romanian team put up times from 7:50.17 to 7:59.6.

It would be great to see a US team do it this year.

[NotDutra5]

the timetable on the IAAF site lists M, W and X 4x4s

Thanks for saving me a rant which would make aaronk blush.

[rsb3]

Just in case anyone, besides myself, was confused ... the schedule posted by gh on page 1 is the schedule for Day 2 of the Championships. There is a Day 1, also

[AFelixFan]

If the m4x400 and w4x400 precede the mixed 4x400, will there be quality athletes left for the mixed 4x400? There's literally just 34 minutes for the men to recover, and a little over an hour for the women to recover. I can't imagine teams outside the US and Jamaica having 12 persons (six males, six females) for a fresh mixed race.

[26mi235]

If the m4x400 and w4x400 precede the mixed 4x400, will there be quality athletes left for the mixed 4x400? There's literally just 34 minutes for the men to recover, and a little over an hour for the women to recover. I can't imagine teams outside the US and Jamaica having 12 persons (six males, six females) for a fresh mixed race.

Not every country will run all three; and the missing one is more likely to be a 'standard' M/F, personnel is the limitation, so I think that you will have some teams that have one or two good females and males make the mixed relay and not one of the others.

[dupontred]

Story on the front page about the South African team. Caster Semenya named to the team. Can you imagine if she is named to the mixed 4x400? Would we see a huge split from her if matched up against male legs?