I didn’t watch any video of this event, but your descriptive summary of the chaos paints a vivid motion picture in my head. Thanks for sharing, it sounded like a real fustercluck
It was on Giles IMO, just as it was at UK champs when he took out Kerr. The guy can't hold a straight line when he's looking over his shoulder. Big shame for Laros, Mills, and Gourley. Hoare also got a bump at the start, but it was a standard but if 1500 rubbing. Great run for him, I was pleased to see him take a big win after a crappy year in 2023. I thought the win had gone when Nordas pulled up onto him but it was great to see him find a little more over the last 10m.
Is the “recall after a fall” rule an actual IAAF rule? I never heard of it until I moved to the U.S.. I’ve also never seen it being used outside of the U.S.. Officials can’t use a rule that doesn’t exist.
It was on Giles IMO, just as it was at UK champs when he took out Kerr. The guy can't hold a straight line when he's looking over his shoulder. Big shame for Laros, Mills, and Gourley. Hoare also got a bump at the start, but it was a standard but if 1500 rubbing. Great run for him, I was pleased to see him take a big win after a crappy year in 2023. I thought the win had gone when Nordas pulled up onto him but it was great to see him find a little more over the last 10m.
I’m getting sick of Giles taking people down.
This close to the Olympics there should probably have not been that many men in the race though. Hope there are no injuries. Can’t Giles have some sort of consequence? If he is clearly the perpetrator.
It was on Giles IMO, just as it was at UK champs when he took out Kerr. The guy can't hold a straight line when he's looking over his shoulder. Big shame for Laros, Mills, and Gourley. Hoare also got a bump at the start, but it was a standard but if 1500 rubbing. Great run for him, I was pleased to see him take a big win after a crappy year in 2023. I thought the win had gone when Nordas pulled up onto him but it was great to see him find a little more over the last 10m.
I’m getting sick of Giles taking people down.
This close to the Olympics there should probably have not been that many men in the race though. Hope there are no injuries. Can’t Giles have some sort of consequence? If he is clearly the perpetrator.
I'm still not sure why they don't have a stagger when the field is so big
Just to add both Mills and Gourley were doing post-race workouts so hopefully all good
Yeah I think Gourlay is saying he took a knock to the chin but all good. He also posted the clip on his insta where the commentators say ‘it’s Elliot again’. So they’re both probably annoyed at him.
He also questions why the race wasn’t stopped - I’m guessing these athletes know the rules so there must have been an option to stop the race. Anyway probably a good thing Elliot is not running in the Olympics and he really needs to stop taking people down as he swerves and drifts without looking in every bloody race.
It was on Giles IMO, just as it was at UK champs when he took out Kerr. The guy can't hold a straight line when he's looking over his shoulder. Big shame for Laros, Mills, and Gourley. Hoare also got a bump at the start, but it was a standard but if 1500 rubbing. Great run for him, I was pleased to see him take a big win after a crappy year in 2023. I thought the win had gone when Nordas pulled up onto him but it was great to see him find a little more over the last 10m.
Yes, I was so happy to see Hoare get his first diamond league win ever after consistently being the number 2 guy to Jakob in 2022 and then having a rocky 2023. I hope he makes the final in Paris, I think top 5 would be a great result for him
It was on meet organziers who put 17 on the start line for a mile, not a 1500, and didn't use a double barrel start. Hell, even if the track isn't lined for a double barrell, just get some damn tape out there.
When you start that many in a mile, you should expect shoving. And once they do inevitably fall, call them back.
I don’t see any mention of it here. They do mention recalls, but only in the case of a false start.
the closest i could find is rule 4.3, but it's pretty ambiguous--not sure exactly what constitutes "doubt about the legality and fairness." on one hand, i'd have to think falling/impeding other runners in the first 25 meters would meet that criteria; on the other hand, maybe "the start" literally means on the starting line and does not extend 25 meters out, or once the gun's fired?
4.3 The Recaller(s) are deployed to specific positions to give an alternative and enhanced view of a race start. Their role is to support the Starter and identify any offence or technical fault at a start that the Starter may not have observed. If there is any doubt about the legality or fairness of the start, the Recaller must recall the race. Discussions within the team will determine the subsequent action (if any). After due deliberation, it is the Starter who will decide if an offence has occurred. These deliberations must be efficient and reach a conclusion as quickly as possible
It was on meet organziers who put 17 on the start line for a mile, not a 1500, and didn't use a double barrel start. Hell, even if the track isn't lined for a double barrell, just get some damn tape out there.
When you start that many in a mile, you should expect shoving. And once they do inevitably fall, call them back.
I don’t see any mention of it here. They do mention recalls, but only in the case of a false start.
the closest i could find is rule 4.3, but it's pretty ambiguous--not sure exactly what constitutes "doubt about the legality and fairness." on one hand, i'd have to think falling/impeding other runners in the first 25 meters would meet that criteria; on the other hand, maybe "the start" literally means on the starting line and does not extend 25 meters out, or once the gun's fired?
4.3 The Recaller(s) are deployed to specific positions to give an alternative and enhanced view of a race start. Their role is to support the Starter and identify any offence or technical fault at a start that the Starter may not have observed. If there is any doubt about the legality or fairness of the start, the Recaller must recall the race. Discussions within the team will determine the subsequent action (if any). After due deliberation, it is the Starter who will decide if an offence has occurred. These deliberations must be efficient and reach a conclusion as quickly as possible
That rule definitely comes closest, but the words “offence” and “technical fault” seem like they are talking about missed false starts and technical malfunctions (starting block slipping, speaker not working). Maybe if someone shoved someone at the starting line that directly results in a fall, that would be considered an offense and that could cause a restart.
I definitely think there should be a rule to account for this, but I don’t think there is one yet.
I've rewatched the mile start in slow motion. The first offender is Ciattei, who for some reason spreads both his arms wide as if he's showing off his wingspan, this happens within the first 9m of the race. This prompts Giles to do the same but in a more aggressive manner, basically shoulder barging Hoare, a miracle Hoare didn't fall.
All while this is happening, Laros is going out extremely fast to get to the front (fair call considering what happened in Monaco). Unfortunately for him, Giles looks to his left for some reason?? and runs straight into the back of Laros. This causes Laros to fall, followed by Gourley.
Gourley ends up impeding McSweyn and Spencer and Davies (pacer) who have to run wide to avoid him. The next camera angle from above shows McSweyn in lane 5 and gapped from the field. I'm surprised he was even able to get to the front after that.
Mills was the 3rd victim as he smoothly jumped over Laros, only to have a barrel rolling Gourley in front of him and smashes right into him. I really hope Gourley is okay as he was mid roll, about to find his footing and get back up before Mills full speed off a jump slams his knee/foot straight into his stomach, knocking Gourley back down again.
At this point, the race is well under 50m in, 3 runners have hit the deck and almost half the field have been heavily impacted by this scuffle (Laros, Gourley, Mills, Hoare, McSweyn, Spencer, Mechaal).
It's absurd the officials did not recall the race??? At 15.5 seconds on the counter, Gourley and Mills can both be seen on their feet, raising their arms in frustration towards the officials to recall. These officials should have immediate recognised the issue and fired the gun to recall. Especially after Gourley and Mills are calling for it, with the race having barely passed 100m at that point.
Really disappointing circumstances for most of the runners. It's great to see Hoare tactically execute the race well but the organisers need to do better. At the very least, Giles and Ciattei need to be sanctioned for their actions. Giles seemed to be the more aggressive one of the two and should be DQ'd.
well wrote out and said, with that many runners in the race wtf they weren't doing a waterfall start?
It was on meet organziers who put 17 on the start line for a mile, not a 1500, and didn't use a double barrel start. Hell, even if the track isn't lined for a double barrell, just get some damn tape out there.
When you start that many in a mile, you should expect shoving. And once they do inevitably fall, call them back.
Archie Davis is a pretty wild inclusion. The other part was very questionable starting positions. Giles, Gourley and Laros should be on the far outside as guys who have starting speed and go out aggressively. McSweyn and Nordas are laughably terrible at starting so they go in the middle to inside lanes. You give Mills and Hoare somewhat outer lanes as guys who can figure it out from 10th or 12th position. The way it was set up you had too many of the quicker guys fighting on the middle/inside and wasted the outer lanes on everyone but Mills with a guy who barely deserved a lane (Spencer) and the slowest starters like McSweyn and Nordas. Those guys are not going to take any advantage of an outer lane.
Monaco mostly got it right. Laros’ issues were not with his starting position (13) really.
World Athletics Technical Rules 163.2 (a) and (b) cover the conditions under which a referee may recall a race: Rule 163.2 (a): The Referee may order the recall of all or some of the athletes in a race... if an athlete is seriously injured in the race... Rule 163.2 (b): The Referee or any other Judge, after consulting with the Referee, may order the recall of all or some of the athletes in a race if, in the judgement of the Referee or such Judge... an athlete has been pushed or forced by another athlete to run or walk outside his or her lane or unduly jostled or obstructed by another athlete so as to affect his or her performance.
Ultimately, the decision to recall the mile rested with the referee. Maybe in their estimation neither fall significantly impacted the fairness of the competition. However, because the falls caused other athletes to be tripped or significantly impeded (ie: Laros), this should have further strengthened the case for a recall.
The two referees didn't listen to the pleas and let the race carry on.
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