List of all wildcards to Moscow WCs

So, for example, if Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson finish 4,5 at USATF then Richardson does not get to go to the World Championships even though he is reigning World Champion.

Interesting.

It's my understanding that USATF is giving preference to defending world champs over Diamond League champs...

So USATF would select the guy that was good 2 years ago over the guy that was good last year?

Merritt would be out in my scenario then.

* wrote:

So USATF would select the guy that was good 2 years ago over the guy that was good last year?

Merritt would be out in my scenario then.

Ignoring the Olympics, winning the World Championships is totally different than winning Diamond League meets. Diamond league meets aren't as stressful, don't have rounds, and have much weaker competition.

I think it's dumb to give wildcards to DL winners. Assuming they aren't the same person, they didn't prove they could win in championships, which is important in determining who goes on the team. Defending World Champions did prove that can compete and win when it matters most.

I agree with the sentiment that winning the World Championships should carry more weight than winning the Diamond League series.

Though, I think winning consistently throughout the season is often harder than winning that one big race.

Again, in the case of my example, Merritt won the Olympics last year.

USATF would pick the 2011 champ over 2012 champ even if he finished behind Merritt at USATF if they simply go by defending World Champion.

I assume the thinking by the IAAF is to encourage participation by big name athletes in more DL events where they try to build up enough points to be a DL champion.

If an athlete's federation doesn't want to send an athlete who is a DL champion they don't have to, so it's really just a bonus athlete for those federations that want to send one.

Here's the IAAF rule:

Here's my list of people who benefit the most from DL wild card.

Isiah Koech - always tough to qualify for the kenyan 5k team. They will have four, when they'd otherwise have just 3.

Reese Hoffa - after the US shot put men did so poorly in Daegu having a 4th entry is nice.

Charonda Williams - hard to believe she won the DL 200 last year. She didn't even make the final at the US Olympic trials.

Pamela Jelimo - she might have qualified on her own, now she doesn't have to worry. 800m is more competitive for Kenyan women now.

Dawn Harper - doesn't have to worry about qualifying in an event where you can suffer a fall at USAs and be out. Now all she has to do is line up for one prelim and she'll be named to the team.

Chaunte Lowe - Don't see her on the world list yet.

Four Americans and two Kenyans.

Most of the others don't really need the wildcard or can't benefit from it. Many of the people on the list are easily the best from their country so they'll be named no matter what. When there are two different people from the same country the federation has to choose.

Pretty good analysis on how helps the top countries.

Nickel Ashmeade will benefit from this to give Jamaica a fourth in the 200 if Bolt is already in their top 3 along with Blake and Weir again.

But all the events with two country men with potential wildcards gain.

If either Bolt or Blake mess up in their trials at 100, they are both in.

Kiprop or Kiplagat could mess up and still get in.

Merritt or Richardson, etc.

The "or" is important. If it's "and" then the country picks.

I could definitely see Jamaica, Ethiopia and Russia benefiting from the Diamond League wild card one day. It just didn't happen this year.

Jamaica didn't really benefit this year because they also have wild cards from the WCs in the same events. Kenya could have benefited more, but for the same reason.

The Russians could benefit if they ever raced enough in Europe to win the DL 800, SC, etc.

Most other countries don't get enough A and B qualifiers to send 3 in every event anyway.

List of countries with 2012 DL wins:

Kenya - 6

USA - 5

Jamaica - 4

I think everyone else just has one???

Chaunte Lowe is pregnant, and won't compete at nationals, but hopes USATF gives her an exception to their requirement that she competes in Des Moines to collect the wild card (she's due pretty soon, as I understand)...

I was going to mention that Lowe was pregnant. Wasn't sure. I checked her wikipedia page but it didn't say anything. Rule #1 - never call a woman pregnant if you aren't sure.

I can't imagine them not naming her to the team. But I'm guessing they'll want to see her compete somewhere. They let LaShawn Merritt go to Daegu even though his Extenze ban wasn't finished in time to compete at USAs.