Exactly how was the world half marathon chosen this year?

The team has not been chosen.

Ritz has an automatic selection because he was second in the USA Half Marathon in January.

http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldHalfMarathonChampionships/entry/selectionProcedures.asp

That is the stupidest qualifying standards ever. A race in January proves nothing for October. Is this how they got stuck with the lousy team that they sent last year? Gildea, Kirkpatrick??????????

And which mid-summer half-marathon do you think many elites would love to be doing in order to have a qualification race closer to the international championship date?

New York, of course.

I would say that the New Haven 20k would be perfect timing.

This was addressed in another thread. Coulfd it be that both Houston and New Haven had spots for the WC? In some years, New Haven has been too late to declare a team.

In any case, selection spots from a national champ race is a little perk that usatf can give to the venue in exchange for all they do for usatf.

ray wrote:

This was addressed in another thread. Coulfd it be that both Houston and New Haven had spots for the WC? In some years, New Haven has been too late to declare a team.

In any case, selection spots from a national champ race is a little perk that usatf can give to the venue in exchange for all they do for usatf.

New Haven 20K is usually 5-6 weeks before World Half Marathon Champs...plenty of time surely.

What about 2009 World Marathon Champs using a selection race from 2 years prior....how illogical is that.

USA LDR Committee seems horribly mismanaged & short-sighted.

How say u???????

Agree with you on mismanagement and WC marathon selection.

Depending on the race site, I believe I've seen declarations for WC Half be 6-8 weeks out in the past. Again, I think selection from both Houston and New Haven is a concession to a National champ venue and is not necessarily a bad thing. The percentages from each and how the rest of the team is chosen may be an issue.

They should choose it by playing a game of duck, duck goose!

IAAF technical regulation 903.5 says with regard to World Half entries:

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Preliminary Entry Forms in the IAAF standard format shall be sent out by the IAAF. They shall indicate the number of athletes and officials as well as the anticipated travel dates and accommodation requirements and the travel quote for approval (see 904.2.1). The entries must be received by the LOC and the IAAF not later than two months before the first day of the Championships.

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Regulation 903.6 adds:

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Final Entries must be submitted one month prior to the final entry deadline which is not later than two Mondays before the first day of competition

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Not exactly the clearest thing I've ever read, but it sounds like the final entries would have been due Aug. 31 this year assuming the final entry deadline was two Mondays before the race as regulation 903.6 seems to say. That would rule out New Haven as a qualifier.

How about going to the source?

USATF must list its selection procedures.

http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/IAAFWorldHalfMarathonChampionships/entry/selectionProcedures.asp

Team size: 5 men, plus 1 alternate; 5 women, plus 1 alternate

Men's automatic selections: Two (2) positions will be offered (based on rank order of finish) among the top 5 finishers at the USA Half Marathon Championship; one (1) position will be offered (based on rank order of finish) among the top 3 finishers at the USA 25 km Championships; and one (1) positions will be offered (based on rank order of finish) among the top 3 finishers at the USA 20 km Championships; final position(s) will be offered based on a list of performances from January 1, 2009 through September 7, 2009.

Men's at-large selections: If position(s) remain unfilled, performance list(s) will be used with consideration of 20 km, half marathon, and 25 km times from January 1, 2009 through September 7, 2009.

Consideration for selection will be given to athletes who finish in the top ten in the USA Half Marathon Championships in January 2009, or USA 25 km Championships in May, and USA 20 km Championships in September, providing (a) that performance is sub 1:04:00, for a half marathon, or equivalent per the Mercier Scoring Tables, and (b) the athletes demonstrates fitness between August 1 and September 7 2009 by a performance at a distance between 10 km and half marathon which is below 1:04:00 or equivalent per the Mercier Scoring Tables

Women's automatic selections: Two (2) positions will be offered (based on rank order of finish) among the top 5 finishers at USA Half Marathon Championship; two (2) positions will be offered (based on rank order of finish) among the top 10 finishers at the USA 20 km Championships.

Women's at-large selections: If position(s) remain unfilled, performance list(s) will be used with consideration of 15 km - 25 km times from September 1, 2008 through September 7, 2009.