'19 WC timetable released [mixed 4x4]

[26mi235]

On the NBC Gold main stream, Steve Cram and Tim Hutchings were talking about the 2019 WC in Doha, and they said there were going to be two evening sessions, with a break in between devoted to entertainment. They would start a 6 PM local, go to about 8, then resume at 9 and go to 11, semis and finals being in the later segment. I don't know whether this means there will be no morning session. They also said that only two field event finals will be held per session, different disciplines and genders. The marathons, they said, will start at midnight.

Alan Shank

What is the time schedule for the Decathlon. I was talking with ZZ today and he was thinking about how the decathlon will feel in that environment.

[Trickstat]

I wonder if the IAAF will change the Combined Events rules triggered by the Doha WC? As far as I am aware the last event of each day must start before midnight for an event to be valid as a decathlon oilir heptathlon. If the second day of the decathlon is starting at 18:00 think it unlikely that you could get through 4 events including the PV in time to start the 1500 by 00:00. Perhaps a new rule could say something like the last event should start no more than 36 hours after the first.

The timings are very good for European TV☺

[Powell]

'19 WC timetable released

The schedule isn't a secret; it's available on the IAAF site, and there are morning sessions on all the days when the multis take place (starting at 10 AM local time).

[norunner]

The timings are very good for European TV☺

Really? You think European broadcasters are going to waste their prime time on athletics?

@Powell: Where do you see morning sessions? Unless you call 4.30pm morning.

[Alan Shank]

Here's a link to the proposed schedule:

https://www.iaaf.org/competitions/iaaf-world-championships/news/2019-world-championships-competition-schedule

Of course, it's over a year away, so some details may change (to allow some star to double, etc.), but the general plan most likely won't.

Coe says: " It is exciting to see the way the World Championships are being developed and adapted to the host country and region mixing world class competition with an ambitious entertainment and engagement plan that we hope will delight athletes, spectators and viewers around the world.”
"We are looking forward to seeing how these firsts and the engagement format will come together next year to deliver a World Championships that will look and feel different.”

There's that word again: "engagement". So sad.

Some highlights
------------------
Friday, 9/27 16:30 to 20 prelims in stadium
later, in city "MC Opening" (Iwan Thomas?)
midnight, Women's Marathon

Saturday
"pre-session" 16:15-17:45
"main session" 18:45-22:15
50K walks 23:30

Sunday -- just a main session, plus W 20K walk 23:30
M&T -- two sessions
Wednesday -- Decathlon starts 16:35, Heptathlon at 17:05, HEP 200 at 21:50,DEC 400 at 23:15
Thursday -- both multis finish, but after midnight per the schedule

Friday -- just main session
Saturday -- pre and main, plus M Marathon 00:00
Sunday -- just main session, culminating with mixed 4x4

Since the interval between the "pre" and "main" sessions is filled with entertainment and "engagement", it doesn't seem feasible to have separate admissions as has been the case.

Count me out.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

[Powell]

Ooops, I got confused. When you go to the WC sub-site on the IAAF site and click on the timetable, it gives you the 2017 version.

[26mi235]

What time do the multis start on Thursday? What facilities (i.e., to keep cool) are there for the multi-event athletes who are out competing in the afternoon? Are the early and late schedules all the same when not listed?

[gh]

'19 WC timetable released

this should have its own thread, not be part of '18 DL chat.

[Davidokun]

What time do the multis start on Thursday?

Decathlon

Day 1 (Wednesday, October 2)

16:35 100
17:30 LJ
18:50 SP
20:40 HJ
23:15 400

Day 2 (Thursday, October 3)

16:35 110H
17:30 DT A
18:35 DT B
19:05 PV A
20:05 PV B
22:05 JT A
23:10 JT B
24:15 1500

Heptathlon

Day 1 (Wednesday, October 2)

17:05 100H
18:15 HJ
20:30 SP
21:50 400

Day 2 (Thursday, October 3)

18:15 LJ
20:10 JT
24:05 800

[AFelixFan]

Why have the m4x4 and w4x4 in the middle of the programme, before the individual events kickstart? I feel like they're trying to get the nations to save their best athletes for the (ridiculous) mixed gender 4x4 scheduled for the end of the programme.

Also, the schedule isn't particularly friendly for 200/400 doublers, particularly on the women's side. I'm sure the likes of Miller-Uibo and Jackson will petition for something more favourable, though I think Gardiner and van Niekerk can be competitive with the schedule as is.

[Master Po]

Prior to posting this, I just checked the value of my opinion, and it is holding steady at zero. So, with that confidence...

I have no interest in the mixed 4x4. Not because I am committed to a 'traditional' approach, but because the mixed 4x4 doesn't add anything of substance. These meets show me great 4x4 competitions already, and a mixed 4x4 is never going to be better than the others. If they want to add an event, and a mixed one, at least make it a somewhat different event, e.g., a sprint medley or distance medley.

[Alan Shank]

Prior to posting this, I just checked the value of my opinion, and it is holding steady at zero. So, with that confidence...

I have no interest in the mixed 4x4. Not because I am committed to a 'traditional' approach, but because the mixed 4x4 doesn't add anything of substance. These meets show me great 4x4 competitions already, and a mixed 4x4 is never going to be better than the others. If they want to add an event, and a mixed one, at least make it a somewhat different event, e.g., a sprint medley or distance medley.

The 200/400 runners have plenty to do without a mixed 4x4 tacked on at the end. Something has got to give; I hope that the federations put their big guns in the M and W events and 2nd-stringers in the mixed race. Then maybe they will drop this thing, put it in a DL meet, maybe, where it would be fun.
Cheers,
Alan Shank
Woodland, CA, USA

[tandfman]

I'm glad I looked again at the timetable. When I first glanced at it the other day, I saw the mixed relay at the end and thought they were replacing the separate men's and women's 4x4s with a single mixed 4x4, which I think would have been a big mistake. The mixed race as an add-on could be interesting.

[lonewolf]

Ok, I am a curmudgeon luddite but IMO the mixed gender relay is a circus act that does not belong in a serious track and field meet.
Maybe a fun novelty for a middle school playday.

[norunner]

Mixed relay is a joke, starting with qualification for it. If they keep to the old qualification system, which they probably will since the new rankings have no relays listed, 8 countries will qualify at the IAAF relays in Nassau. That's a two day event, so we'll have four 4x4 relay races in two days (semis and final). Not many countries have six good 400m runners to fill both relays, US does, Jamaica, that's it, all the others will have to decide which relay to focus on. And those who don't qualify in Nassau will have to try to find mixed relay races during the season to run a qualifying time, good luck with that.
I get the feeling these ideas always sound good in the minds of the IAAF council members, but they never bother to actually think them through.