In Texas they try to keep right at 220 schools per class. Now a 3 day meet. I think in 5 and 6-A they could advance what they do now and add top 4 times from district through region. There are some district and area meets that are far harder in 1 or 2 regions. 12 in the 800-3200 isn't too many. That and the disparity in relay points. 20 for first in the 4x1, 4,2, and 4x4. Makes the state sprint oriented. Why not a dmr?
Soprano wrote:
You make some fair and true points, but I still stand by my opinion for having only one state champion.
First of all, there are more fast kids from bigger schools because that is the mathematical odds. Do these kids at biggers schools often have advantages with facilities and coaching? Yes, but that's only a small part of the equation. The biggest part is just simple probability. At the high school level in individual sports, it's pretty common to excel just because you are super talented, with or without good training.
And then even if a lot of these kids at smaller schools aren't better because of lack of coaching/sport focus, then so what? Again, it's not a team sport, it's individual. If they're not "good enough" to compete with the best individuals in the state, regardless of their disadvantage, then that's just what it is.
Plenty of high schools even within the same division have a huge advantage over similarly sized schools for one reason or another (coaching, school tradition, etc), but they don't get handicapped when it comes time for qualifying for the state meet. What about the schools in the same section as FM or Saratoga girls? Other schools just as big as those two do not have the same quality coaches nor the school focus and support for track.
There are arguments on both sides and since most states have some kind of division by size for their track state championships, I guess I'm in the minority with my opinion. I'm fine with their being a class system in team sports and XC, but even there I think some states go overboard with too many classes. Two to four should be sufficient for most states.
I understand the odds. The numbers have more affect than simple X/Population probability. It affects the entire environment. The advantage of FM over other schools of similar size is not equivalent or corollary to the advantage of a large school over a small. To say so tells me you don't have much experience with small school athletics. I guess you have to experience it to get it.
I am not against a true state championship format if first there is a championship season for each classification. But elimination of small divisions entirely would pretty much decimate the sport at that level. Why would an athletic department decide to even field a team? They wouldn't be competitive at all, there's nothing to shoot for, the kids would not be interested. When that one talented guy eventually comes along, there wouldn't even be a team to compete for. You cannot completely separate the track athlete from the track team.
CO Coach wrote:
1A 99-down
is that per gender? Are there some small towns too far out to bus to a central location in the county? Here in VA, we'd probably close a school with enrollment that low.
Actually I just did the math, the least populous county in VA (5th least populous east of the Mississippi) would have an enrollment in the 60s-70s, but the 2nd least populous would have a hs almost double that size.
We just finished our 3-day co-ed state meet in Iowa, held at historic Drake Stadium this past Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Here's how the nation's largest track & field meet (total spectator attendance: 38,161) does it:
1) Four classes compete in State Qualifying Meets one week prior to state. 2) Within each class, top two performances at each qualifying meet plus the next best runners/throwers/jumpers statewide comprise 24 individuals in each event (18 events for boys, 19 for girls).
3) Smaller 2A and medium 3A schools compete together at state meet in the morning/early afternoon on Thursday and Friday. Smallest 1A schools and largest 4A schools compete in the afternoon/evening.
4) On Saturday, all four classes compete together, with 1A schools running first, alternating girls and boys. Most finals on track are held this day, which begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m.
Here's the schedule:
http://www.iahsaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/16statetrackfieldschedule.pdf
Rhode Island
Straight list. Times come from either division (schools grouped together by location) or class (grouped by size of schools) championship meets or an invitational meet held in state
24 allowed in an event held on the straight or 18 in all other events. One year I had only two girls qualify for the meet and we finished third.
I believe that MN is the only state that has a team state meet separate from the individual state meet.
It is scored in "true team" format to emphasize having mid pack athletes in many events vs a couple of standouts
True team scoring
Individual events
Last place scores 1 point
2nd to last scores 2 points
First place scores number of points as there are entrants
DQs and no marks score 0 points
Relays - same scoring but 4-8-12, etc as each team has four runners
Each team gets 2 or 3 entrants per event at the section meet depending on the school size division. Placing is determined by running heats and taking times.
Top team from every region qualifies for the true team state meet which is held 3 weeks before the normal state meet.
RIP: D3 All-American Frank Csorba - who ran 13:56 in March - dead
RENATO can you talk about the preparation of Emile Cairess 2:06
Running for Bowerman Track Club used to be cool now its embarrassing
Hats off to my dad. He just ran a 1:42 Half Marathon and turns 75 in 2 months!
Great interview with Steve Cram - says Jakob has no chance of WRs this year
Rest in Peace Adrian Lehmann - 2:11 Swiss marathoner. Dies of heart attack.