2 Jamaicans better World Junior Record in the same race

[18.99s]

The very elite U20 athletes like Liu and Nehemiah may have had no problem running over senior hurdles, but that's true of a very small subset of men who compete in the event.

Exactly. 99% of U20 hurdlers around the world can't break 14 seconds with the 39-inchers, and it would be injurious and disastrous to make them use 42 inches.

[18.99s]

Any link results for these championships?

http://www.trackandfieldjm.com/event-results/live-results.html

[crymeariver]

The very elite U20 athletes like Liu and Nehemiah may have had no problem running over senior hurdles, but that's true of a very small subset of men who compete in the event.

If you're talking about a sub-13.60 class then yes (Liu, Nehemiah, Ridgeon, Jackson, Valle, etc). But, I would rather see juniors hovering around the mid-14 or even the 15 second mark who actually have potential in the event than mid-13s kids who will never run 110 hurdles as seniors. I see the junior events as training events for seniors and I don't think the hurdles meet that standard.

If the object is to maximize the number of participants, then yes, lower the barrier. However, if the event is trying to determine who will be the next "high hurdler" then the hurdles should be at 42".

1986 - 26 athletes competed from 18 countries
1988 - 25 athletes competed from 20 countries
1990 - 27 athletes competed from 20 countries
1992 - 24 athletes competed from 20 countries
1994 - 34 athletes competed from 25 countries
1996 - 34 athletes competed from 26 countries
1998 - 29 athletes competed from 19 countries
2000 - 40 athletes competed from 31 countries
2002 - 29 athletes competed from 23 countries
2004 - 37 athletes competed from 28 countries <- Last year 106.7 cm (42")
2006 - 40 athletes competed from 30 countries
2008 - 65 athletes competed from 45 countries *
2010 - 48 athletes competed from 36 countries
2012 - 56 athletes competed from 42 countries
2014 - 55 athletes competed from 41 countries

[Powell]

If you're talking about a sub-13.60 class then yes (Liu, Nehemiah, Ridgeon, Jackson, Valle, etc). But, I would rather see juniors hovering around the mid-14 or even the 15 second mark who actually have potential in the event than mid-13s kids who will never run 110 hurdles as seniors. I see the junior events as training events for seniors and I don't think the hurdles meet that standard.

There's nothing to stop the elite junior hurdlers competing over senior hurdles as well. But some guys may just not be ready to do that, and yet they will become top class once they reach physical maturity.

[26mi235]

You cannot easily train for both heights so if the big meets are at the low height then your timing can be off.

[18.99s]

If the object is to maximize the number of participants, then yes, lower the barrier. However, if the event is trying to determine who will be the next "high hurdler" then the hurdles should be at 42".

It's not really about maximizing participants; it's also about controlling the frequency of injuries and disrupted races from hurdlers (and hurdles!) crashing and tumbling into each other.

The elite talents who could have handled 42" if it were contested at the U20 stage also have the talent to adjust quickly from 39" to 42" when they turn 20, so there's no major harm done by having U20s use the 39-inchers (compared to having masses of less talented teenagers falling over 42-inch hurdles which they can't handle).

[DentyCracker]

Russell made the CWG final this year!

[crymeariver]

It's not really about maximizing participants; it's also about controlling the frequency of injuries and disrupted races from hurdlers (and hurdles!) crashing and tumbling into each other.

The elite talents who could have handled 42" if it were contested at the U20 stage also have the talent to adjust quickly from 39" to 42" when they turn 20, so there's no major harm done by having U20s use the 39-inchers (compared to having masses of less talented teenagers falling over 42-inch hurdles which they can't handle).

Valid point. I'm looking (too narrowly, mind you) at the transition from a North American high school (39") to College/U-20 (42") - forgetting that many countries do not have high school sports.

[cladthin]

I like the 39s as a developmental event for the later 42s. As some others stated many U20 might not yet have the strength/power yet to handle the bigger hurdles. Those individuals have to drop their hips lower at takeoff to get over the higher hurdles and end up vaulting over the tops. Keeping the U20 at the 39inch hurdles will promote faster touchdown times, lower takeoff angles.

Adjusting back to competing with 39s for someone who competes with 42s is not that difficult as much (if not all in many cases) of their training IS with 39s and even 36s. If they are doing rhythm endurance work (high hurdle speed endurance training) from 8-12 hurdles, for example, they are doing them at 39s and some 36s even mixed in and it is very common to have the men run on the women's competition spacing (8.5m) in training.

[Trickstat]

If they are doing rhythm endurance work (high hurdle speed endurance training) from 8-12 hurdles, for example, they are doing them at 39s and some 36s even mixed in an very common spacing is to have the men run on the women's competitions distances (8.5m).

Here in the UK, 100mH at 36" is the standard event for 15 and 16 year olds (the equivalent of freshman and sophomore at US High School?).

[cladthin]

Here in the UK, 100mH at 36" is the standard event for 15 and 16 year olds (the equivalent of freshman and sophomore at US High School?).

For the levels that they have of strength/power output at those ages those heights are probably commensurate, appropriate.

[DentyCracker]

Originally Posted by Trickstat
Here in the UK, 100mH at 36" is the standard event for 15 and 16 year olds (the equivalent of freshman and sophomore at US High School?).
That is Class 2 height in Jamaica id est 15-16 year olds