How to save time at a TF meet

If there's any hope to make track popular for the viewing masses, here's what the schedule should be for every meet:

Alternate F/M

100

400

1500

Steeple

5000

Pole Vault

Done in like 90 minutes. If you want to add more niche events, have tack it onto the end but don't force TV to work around them. Don't cut away from 1500+ races to watch long jump.

Pretty good . I’d add the 400 hurdles . Make sure all field events are out.possible exception javelin

Make track popular wrote:

If there's any hope to make track popular for the viewing masses, here's what the schedule should be for every meet:

Alternate F/M

100

400

1500

Steeple

5000

Pole Vault

Done in like 90 minutes. If you want to add more niche events, have tack it onto the end but don't force TV to work around them. Don't cut away from 1500+ races to watch long jump.

the 400 is the worst race in track. Lanes all the way isnt racing its pacing. And no relay?

The 1500 and 5k blow. Run the 100, mile, 4x800, and 4x4. High jump, long jump, and PV. Honestly, the 15 is the most rediculous race around. Either run the mile or 1600. 3.75 laps is stoooooopid!

100

400h

Steeple

5000

Pole Vault and LJ during

But change the pole vault: Vaulters pick their heights, three misses total.

They could start by limiting the amount of time sprinters can spend getting their blocks set up. Hurdles are a huge time suck too.

Hold the distance events the night before

In my high school days we ran the 3200 first, or before the meet would actually start. Everyone would be unloading the bus, and we'd have 2 minutes to warm up then race.

Now, where I'm at, the 3200 sucks up 35 minutes easy, late in the meet, thanks mostly to some girls running 9 minute miles. I don't recall everyone "winning" when I was in high school.

Has nothing to do with which events, but the efficient transitions between races. That indoor meets like Boston or UW can run 8 heats of the mile, 5 heats of 3ks, 3 heats of the 5k, 15 heats of the 800, (and 400s, 200s, 600s, 1000s, straightaway sprints and hurdles, and relays...) between noon and 9:00pm is all about getting the next race lined up and off within 60 seconds of the last finisher crossing the line.

So, the real checklist for a fast meet:

Staff the check in table with more people

Put the check in table right near the start

Make sure the timing company is quick and ready for a fast paced session

Starters are grumpy old guys who don't have time for you to tie your shoes, take off your warm ups, etc.

Whipp wrote:

Has nothing to do with which events, but the efficient transitions between races. That indoor meets like Boston or UW can run 8 heats of the mile, 5 heats of 3ks, 3 heats of the 5k, 15 heats of the 800, (and 400s, 200s, 600s, 1000s, straightaway sprints and hurdles, and relays...) between noon and 9:00pm is all about getting the next race lined up and off within 60 seconds of the last finisher crossing the line.

So, the real checklist for a fast meet:

Staff the check in table with more people

Put the check in table right near the start

Make sure the timing company is quick and ready for a fast paced session

Starters are grumpy old guys who don't have time for you to tie your shoes, take off your warm ups, etc.

+1

Just run it like a HS dual meet. Complete all the standard events (aside from maybe the 10,000m), but only one heat of distance/mid-d races and maybe two heats for sprints.

Field events would actually be the hard part. We always seemed to be waiting around for the PVers to finish up long after the last running event during HS dual meets. Shouldn't be too much of an issue as long as the track can accommodate running men's and women's jumps and PV concurrently, though.