I think the original poster is missing the point that Jude ran 4:10 at 5200’ and the altitude conversion would put him in around 4:04. He isn’t getting in because of his name, he’s getting in because they convert for altitude. There are a lot of kids from Colorado in the 3200 without famous last names who also are in the fast heat because of altitude conversions.
All coaches seem to not like the guy. But obviously he has favorites. How does that work?
How has gotten so much power unchecked? Just the one meet? nike ?
I think it's odd just that he has the opportunity to help California kids but seems to do the opposite and show more favoritism to other states.
Aidan Antonio ran 4:06 last year. Jude Ritzenhein has run 4:10. Jude gets in the invite and Aidan can't even get in the seeded. Guys like Bowman, Alberts getting screwed...
Jude ran that 4:10 at 5k+ feet. Let's put some perspective.
I think the altitude conversions have gotten out of hand. Altitude races certainly deserve a conversion, but it is just too much. The conversions are essentially made up numbers. From scientific research, it seems that altitude affects athletes in different ways. In the regs for national meets and Arcadia, they use 2500' to start conversions. Kids living at 5k+, racing at 2500' should not get a conversion. Also, why no flat track conversion? Why no conversion for humidity and heat? Altitude deserves some love but other things do as well. Ritzenheim just ran slower at sea level than he did at 5000'. I know that this race was different, but to give him a 4:04 is a big reach. Also, if altitude kids get the conversion all the time, they consistently get in better heats, which inflates the altitude conversion more.
Meta, Amazon, Facebook lost in criminal court in Albuquerque and Santa Monica last week. They have $TRILLIONS to pay judgements. PrepCalTrack, Arcadia Meet, Rich G are charity orgs with no pay, no profits, free TV, free pics, free vlogs. No lawyer will take your case if they don't have money in the bank to draw lawyers fees from. That's the reality of the situation. Find some other way to address your issues with Rich G.
I hear what you are saying. For the top tier kids it doesn't matter long term in their journey. Jude Ritzenhein is going to get in the fast heat going forward no matter what. He doesn't need the 'help' and if he were to be in a slower section one day, it won't have much impact on his career.
But there thousands of kids competing who aren't named Ritzenhein. Running 4-5 seconds faster in one heat over another can impact scholarship opportunities whether you want to admit it or not. Especially when you're talking about boys and their trajectory (sophomore/junior) with all the roster spot limits.
Lucas Alberts (Jesuit) ran 4:07 and posted "4 more seconds" -- because that's what it takes for him to get a scholarship/roster spot at one of the schools he's looking at. This is a 4:07/1:51 (junior) guy that's legitimately worried about getting his spot.
And for many, this is the PREMIER race where you'll set your season PR. So every second counts. I think that's the point made. The stakes are high for a lot of these atheltes.
And the point I made about no HS coaches liking Rich was a genuine thought/question. I was thinking maybe I could ask for a favor vs. one of my contacts. But everyone I know seems to think poorly of him or vice versa.
If you're on the bubble (fastest heat vs. the next fastest heat), I'm not sure it's always best to be in the top heat. Arcadia is SO DEEP that the next best heat will be incredibly fast. Different schools of thought, but I have found that kids do better near the front of a race vs. hanging on the back of a faster heat.
1000’s of kids, hundreds of schools and is the highlight of HS competitions every year. Rich and his crew do an outstanding job sorting through all the “fast pencil “ performances. Is it perfect? No. But it is an incredible meet. those unhappy can always run at the tiger paw 😊
I feel his power isn't that great if anyone else could start an invite meet and compete against Arcadia to draw top athletes. Couldn't all the people that feel burned by him just agree to race each other at a different meet?
I hear what you are saying. For the top tier kids it doesn't matter long term in their journey. Jude Ritzenhein is going to get in the fast heat going forward no matter what. He doesn't need the 'help' and if he were to be in a slower section one day, it won't have much impact on his career.
But there thousands of kids competing who aren't named Ritzenhein. Running 4-5 seconds faster in one heat over another can impact scholarship opportunities whether you want to admit it or not. Especially when you're talking about boys and their trajectory (sophomore/junior) with all the roster spot limits.
Lucas Alberts (Jesuit) ran 4:07 and posted "4 more seconds" -- because that's what it takes for him to get a scholarship/roster spot at one of the schools he's looking at. This is a 4:07/1:51 (junior) guy that's legitimately worried about getting his spot.
And for many, this is the PREMIER race where you'll set your season PR. So every second counts. I think that's the point made. The stakes are high for a lot of these atheltes.
And the point I made about no HS coaches liking Rich was a genuine thought/question. I was thinking maybe I could ask for a favor vs. one of my contacts. But everyone I know seems to think poorly of him or vice versa.
You're 100% correct. The Top Tier kids will have no issues.
It's the Tier 2 kids sitting at 4:05-4:10 that just a few seconds can change their prospects about getting a roster spot or not. Walk-on's are all but gone. Having an Athlete go through Arcadia a few times, I think Rich does a good job or really trying to match up the athletes to their races. This isn't the final list. Last minute scratches and so on do change. One year I had Rich reach out the week of and ask if an athlete wanted to run in a race due to a scratch.
I think the altitude conversions have gotten out of hand. Altitude races certainly deserve a conversion, but it is just too much. The conversions are essentially made up numbers. From scientific research, it seems that altitude affects athletes in different ways. In the regs for national meets and Arcadia, they use 2500' to start conversions. Kids living at 5k+, racing at 2500' should not get a conversion. Also, why no flat track conversion? Why no conversion for humidity and heat? Altitude deserves some love but other things do as well. Ritzenheim just ran slower at sea level than he did at 5000'. I know that this race was different, but to give him a 4:04 is a big reach. Also, if altitude kids get the conversion all the time, they consistently get in better heats, which inflates the altitude conversion more.
And that's why Rich as his own Altitude Conversion formula.
I feel his power isn't that great if anyone else could start an invite meet and compete against Arcadia to draw top athletes. Couldn't all the people that feel burned by him just agree to race each other at a different meet?
No one else wants to work that hard - easier to complain about how unfair he is.
Rich is cool to me and I haven't coached in years. Still says hi to me, but I never pressed the guy either. If I ever had a question, I would send him a respectful email about seeding or meeting or getting into Arcadia and I would receive one in return. One time he missed a sheet of athletes whom should have gotten in and adjusted accordingly. I have no idea when he sleeps. He only gets requests from people and how many people ever help out. It's truly a thankless job. True he took over for Speck, but he did not inherit it. He grew it in to what it is today. Arcadia was a local meet when he took over 25+ years ago. He was also juggling Dyestatcal.com. That was the real website back then. Bring it back! That message board was the OG. CA athletes who could use an Arcadia experience as a true developmental meet whom do not get into the meet are the real victims. There are lots of athletes that could go there and PR that won't get into the state meet or even CIF masters. As far as I'm concerned, complaining athletes and coaches from out of state can go pound sand. Seriously, this happens every single year and you are welcome to get your own meet started.
Lucas Alberts (Jesuit) ran 4:07 and posted "4 more seconds" -- because that's what it takes for him to get a scholarship/roster spot at one of the schools he's looking at. This is a 4:07/1:51 (junior) guy that's legitimately worried about getting his spot.
And for many, this is the PREMIER race where you'll set your season PR. So every second counts. I think that's the point made. The stakes are high for a lot of these atheltes.
some fair points, but if i'm coaching alberts, i'm telling him he'll have his opportunities. if you or your coach treat this meet as THE premier race, you're missing the boat in the competitive california scene. did alberts run stanford? could he have come down for meet of champions? could he have gone to oregon relays? can he go to various national champs races after the season? i'll bet he can if necessary...
also, as pointed out by others here: the seeded and other heats are often better racing opportunities for some athletes...
Yeah, I agree with this notion that fastest possible heat might not be great for everyone. Boys 3200m - there are 6 heats and unless you're an 8:40 guy it probably doesn't matter a ton.
Regarding Ritzenhein maybe you're right. He ran 4:10 at altitude. Wonder what he could run at sea level ?
If only we had a frame of reference to figure that out. Oh yeah, he did run at sea level...and ran ... guess what time...4:10.
I was just using those guys as examples -- because I think there are dozens of examples like that.
Enough with these altitude conversions. it puts the other normal kids at a disadvantage. And Aidan didn't even make the seeded heat by the way. That was my point.
Yeah, I agree with this notion that fastest possible heat might not be great for everyone. Boys 3200m - there are 6 heats and unless you're an 8:40 guy it probably doesn't matter a ton.
Regarding Ritzenhein maybe you're right. He ran 4:10 at altitude. Wonder what he could run at sea level ?
If only we had a frame of reference to figure that out. Oh yeah, he did run at sea level...and ran ... guess what time...4:10.
I was just using those guys as examples -- because I think there are dozens of examples like that.
Enough with these altitude conversions. it puts the other normal kids at a disadvantage. And Aidan didn't even make the seeded heat by the way. That was my point.
He proved himself in the altitude race and there absolutely should be an altitude adjustment. His two teammates ran quite a bit faster from the prior week at altitude (5 seconds and 8 seconds faster). If you watched the Oregon race and the post race interview, it was clear that the freshman struggled with positioning in that crowded mile. It sounds like it was a good learning experience, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to run much better at Arcadia since it is a smaller heat. Everyone is seeded based off their best mark, including him. That's not favoritism.
Yeah, I agree with this notion that fastest possible heat might not be great for everyone. Boys 3200m - there are 6 heats and unless you're an 8:40 guy it probably doesn't matter a ton.
Regarding Ritzenhein maybe you're right. He ran 4:10 at altitude. Wonder what he could run at sea level ?
If only we had a frame of reference to figure that out. Oh yeah, he did run at sea level...and ran ... guess what time...4:10.
I was just using those guys as examples -- because I think there are dozens of examples like that.
Enough with these altitude conversions. it puts the other normal kids at a disadvantage. And Aidan didn't even make the seeded heat by the way. That was my point.
He proved himself in the altitude race and there absolutely should be an altitude adjustment. His two teammates ran quite a bit faster from the prior week at altitude (5 seconds and 8 seconds faster). If you watched the Oregon race and the post race interview, it was clear that the freshman struggled with positioning in that crowded mile. It sounds like it was a good learning experience, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was able to run much better at Arcadia since it is a smaller heat. Everyone is seeded based off their best mark, including him. That's not favoritism.
You missed the point about altitude. This isn't about Ritz or anyone else. What about other factors that these meets ignore? Humidity? Flat track? Do they downgrade sprints, jumps or throws run at altitude? It is an imperfect science but all meets add random conversions willy-nilly.
I hope someone pickets the hell out of Arcadia this year. Allowing AB Hernandez into the meet takes away a lot of Rich's (and Arcadia's) credibility and makes him look like he bowed to the gender mob.
I hope someone pickets the hell out of Arcadia this year. Allowing AB Hernandez into the meet takes away a lot of Rich's (and Arcadia's) credibility and makes him look like he bowed to the gender mob.
Send a letter to DJT!! This is all fun and games until some lib politician's daughter gets dunked on with some sweaty junk in her face.