The humor of course is it only takes 2 races to get a world ranking, so that really does not require much racing anyway.
Is it really true that it only takes two races to get a World Ranking? If that is the case, why are the Road to Paris rankings sometimes based on three races? (As an example, look at Belinda CHEMUTAI, ranked 42nd in the Women 5000m, where her average score is based on three (instead of her top two) performances.
The humor of course is it only takes 2 races to get a world ranking, so that really does not require much racing anyway.
Is it really true that it only takes two races to get a World Ranking? If that is the case, why are the Road to Paris rankings sometimes based on three races? (As an example, look at Belinda CHEMUTAI, ranked 42nd in the Women 5000m, where her average score is based on three (instead of her top two) performances.
2 for marathon
3 for 5000, 10000 and steeple
5 for all other events
There's a few other small caveats, like how many races you can include as "off" events (eg, you can count one indoor 3000 for your 5000 points average, or one half marathon for your marathon ranking).
The criteria seems confusing, but Adams appears to be correct here.
The way I read it there were 80 spots by time standard, to max 3 per country. Then there were 11 universality places (top ranked athlete for event in countries without entries). On top of that are 4 by world rankings.
As it stands, only 70 runners made the time standard (besides the others who did but their countries already had 3). Add the 11 to that, and then the 4 ---Liam is 4th, or takes the 85th spot. Because only 70 qualified by time, the 80 in that category weren't met.
For Korir, it is more unclear. USATF requires top 3 at trials (their rules). If they apply that then Korir will get Albertson's spot. The next athlete in line is the German Welday who if he had been two rankings higher would actually take Albertson's spot...in which case the US would probably have kept Albertson in.
The US never would have had to keep Albertson in to keep a spot. If they have the 3rd spot, they have the 3rd spot and can give it however they deem fit.
Did you read what I said? The criteria are there. As it stands according to IAAF, Albertson is the 3rd American. Remove him (based on USA criteria), you roll to the next which is Korir. Both on ranking, not time. The 95 spots ( 70+11+4) are then full. There are only 70 qualifiers for the 80 time spots.
I said "IF" Welday had been ahead of Korir on ranking (he is 2 lower) then "IF" USA applied its trial criteria, Korir wouyld not be entitled to it. You would only get 2 spots same as every other country who only qualified 2.
The way it stands now USA have 3 irrespective of Albertson or Korir. Begrijpen??
Hmmm ... Chile, South Africa, USA, and Australia get spots (pretty well resourced countries with track records in athletics). Those who just miss out are two from Brunei, one from Turkey, and one as an Athlete Refugee (living in isreal). Seems questionable that they just chose 4 because of the countries they represent. But also possible they just 4 because that rounds to 85 and they thought 90 (allowing 9 in) was too much.
I didn’t realize Chile is such an athletics powerhouse.
Truly great news. Now that he has his charity spot (stripped from guys from countries with more than 3 runners under the standard) he can finally hobbyjog the Olympic marathon on route for a fight for DFL with a guy from Kirghizistan!
Road to Paris list has 11 Universality athletes put in after the 70 auto qualifiers. That means NO ONE got in on world ranking for the men's marathon. What a joke! Some of these guys are like barely sub 2:20. One doesn't even...
I was downvoted quite a lot for that, but it was always clear that WA was not going to omit a qualified US athlete who only lost out due to a surfeit of universality places. In purely sporting terms, Korir wouldn't go, but there's politics behind all this and the US federation and market matters a lot to WA
This post was edited 26 seconds after it was posted.
I said "IF" Welday had been ahead of Korir on ranking (he is 2 lower) then "IF" USA applied its trial criteria, Korir wouyld not be entitled to it. You would only get 2 spots same as every other country who only qualified 2.
Welday doesn't matter att all because he is only the 5th ranked German behind four guys who hit the time standard.
The criteria seems confusing, but Adams appears to be correct here.
The way I read it there were 80 spots by time standard, to max 3 per country. Then there were 11 universality places (top ranked athlete for event in countries without entries). On top of that are 4 by world rankings.
As it stands, only 70 runners made the time standard (besides the others who did but their countries already had 3). Add the 11 to that, and then the 4 ---Liam is 4th, or takes the 85th spot. Because only 70 qualified by time, the 80 in that category weren't met.
For Korir, it is more unclear. USATF requires top 3 at trials (their rules). If they apply that then Korir will get Albertson's spot. The next athlete in line is the German Welday who if he had been two rankings higher would actually take Albertson's spot...in which case the US would probably have kept Albertson in.
The US never would have had to keep Albertson in to keep a spot. If they have the 3rd spot, they have the 3rd spot and can give it however they deem fit.
As long as they ran the 2:11:30 time, right?
They should clear this up for next time. The charity spots should be extra after you fill the field with the qualifers.
He's finding out in June that he's running a marathon in early August?
I'm sure he's been training for it but on the other hand, he's pro his training is geared to making a living.
This system is a joke. After the trials in February Korir wasn't sure he would qualify for the Olympic Marathon so he runs another marathon in April. Then last month we are told he won't qualify because of the universality spots. Now in June, two months before the Olympics he's told he does qualify. What a confusing mess! This doesn't help the sport.
Awesome news that Korir is running, but the problem that needs to be addressed for the future is obviously that the Olympic selection process is complex and needs a better solution for future Olympic selection
GREAT NEWS!!! But, this drama is absolutely ridiculous, and totally unfair to Korir and the other athletes who thought they got screwed over and probably totally altered training plans. Stupid.
Awesome news that Korir is running, but the problem that needs to be addressed for the future is obviously that the Olympic selection process is complex and needs a better solution for future Olympic selection
Tbh, it's not that complex. The only minor adjustment they need to make is to say top 80 in the rankings get selected, any universality places come in addition to that top 80. Simple, straightforward, no confusion. Get in the top 80 or you don't go.
Personally, I'd also get rid of the qualifying standard so the only way to get in is to have a top 80 rankings, but some won't agree with that. At the very least, the standard needs to be much harder, probably even harder than the 2:06 Tokyo World Champs standard
At first I thought it was weird that Korir would get to leapfrog higher ranked athletes, but then I decided to actually read the rules:
Any national Olympic committee may choose to reallocate a quota place to an unqualified athlete, provided the athlete in the qualification window has achieved at least a 2:11:30 (men) or 2:29:30 (women) performance.
Personally, I'd also get rid of the qualifying standard so the only way to get in is to have a top 80 rankings, but some won't agree with that. At the very least, the standard needs to be much harder, probably even harder than the 2:06 Tokyo World Champs standard
The US needs to get its act together whatever the Olympic qualifying process is moving forward. There's no valid reason the US had to wait until the eleventh hour to know whether it is fielding a full team of three for the marathon.
