Who Doesn't Have the "A" Standard...and Why?

Ol Grumpus wrote:There is nothing abnormal with not having the qualifying standard from the previous year. Obviously, their focus last year was on the World Championships, not on getting a standard for the Olympics--and they have the medals to show for it.

I disagree with this. A lot of guys plan ahead for their "A" and it works out well for them. Look at Ritz in 2004. He planned ahead for his "A" and made the team as a result.

I also disagee that focusing on the WCs and getting the "A" for the Olys are somehow mutually exclusive, especially for Lagat, who could probably run 13:21.5 almost any time of the year he wanted to.

I hope it's all a moot point. I hope at Cardinal this weekend we see the kinds of races we often do in Oly years as people chase qualifiers and standards.

While waiting to get the "A" may not be the smartest course for an elite athlete, it should make for some fantastic meets in the coming weeks.

The last example is Rob Myers was on the Ohio State team in 2004 and placesd 3rd at the Trials. Becasue he didn't have the A standard, it went back to a guy who didn't even make the final who had the A from the year before.

I don't believe any event will produce an A standard at the Trials (except maybe the steeplechase where incidentally Fam does not have the standard).

You used to be able to go and chase the standard in Europe after the Trials and before the Games, but no longer.

It occurs to me that for Lagat, the A standard may not be necessary, because as the world champion, doesn't he have a free pass into the Olympics and that the U.S. then gets a maximum of 4 slots in the 5k, as in the 100m w/Maurice Green in years past? And in any case, if first trials finisher makes it regardless of A standard, then he goes, which means that Lagat goes, right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

i wish it were so but i think that one only applies for worlds not for oly's.

There's still a lot of time for athletes to make an A

standard, between now and end of Trials. I agree with the point made earlier that it's much better to have the standard in the bank, before the Trials start. Then you can relax, and run tactically to win, which is great rehearsal for the Games, both heats and finals. Where is the most updated list of A and B standard achievers, particularly in the distance events?

jonesy. wrote:

It occurs to me that for Lagat, the A standard may not be necessary, because as the world champion, doesn't he have a free pass into the Olympics and that the U.S. then gets a maximum of 4 slots in the 5k, as in the 100m w/Maurice Green in years past? And in any case, if first trials finisher makes it regardless of A standard, then he goes, which means that Lagat goes, right? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Nope, that's just for the World Championships, not the Olympics.

athletes have until july 23rd to reach the standard and countries can ask an athlete get until july 31 to get the standard (july 31st is for special circumstances) july 23rd is for all athletes.

doug burke wrote:

athletes have until july 23rd to reach the standard and countries can ask an athlete get until july 31 to get the standard (july 31st is for special circumstances) july 23rd is for all athletes.

That is the IAAF rule. USATF policies are that the team will be named at the end of the trials. So you either need to have the A going into the trials or get it at the trials. In the 1500, 5k and 10k, tactics could come into play (in the steeple, it seems to almost always take the A to be top 3).

thanks. i looked at the IAAF site and didn't see any mention of the world champion exemption, but I was positive that it played a role at some point.

jonesy. wrote:thanks. i looked at the IAAF site and didn't see any mention of the world champion exemption, but I was positive that it played a role at some point.

I think there is a very good argument for exempting reigning WC medalists from having to get the "A" for the Oly's the next year, but don't expect the IAAF to ever do anything so reasonable.

Tai Webb wrote:

doug burke wrote:

athletes have until july 23rd to reach the standard and countries can ask an athlete get until july 31 to get the standard (july 31st is for special circumstances) july 23rd is for all athletes.

That is the IAAF rule. USATF policies are that the team will be named at the end of the trials. So you either need to have the A going into the trials or get it at the trials. In the 1500, 5k and 10k, tactics could come into play (in the steeple, it seems to almost always take the A to be top 3).

Why has the USATF crippled itself? Do we not want to send the athletes who are competing the best at the trials and close to the games. That as opposed to some guy who qualified almost a year ago but isn't competing well now?

Wanna argue logistics? If you're a possible alternate, you know you gotta be ready. What's the deal?

Just for reference, here are the the American men with the "A" standard in the distance and mid-distance events. Let me know if I'm missing anyone:

800 (1:46.00)

Alan Webb 1:43.84

Khadevis Robinson 1:44.27

Nick Symmonds 1:44.54

Jonathan Johnson 1:44.69

Duane Solomon 1:45.69

Lopez Lomong 1:45.79

Jebreh Harris 1:45.92

1,500 (3:36.60)

Alan Webb 3:30.54

Bernard Lagat 3:33.85

Matt Tegenkamp 3:34.25

Leo Manzano 3:35.29

Jon Rankin 3:35.72

Rob Myers 3:36.49

Steeple (8:24.60)

Steve Slattery 8:15.69

Brian Olinger 8:19.29

Aaron Aguayo 8:20.34

Josh McAdams 8:21.36

I'm not positive but I think Fam may have hit the A this past weekend

5,000 (13:21.50)

Matt Tegenkamp 13:07.41

Anthony Famiglietti 13:11.93

Chris Solinsky 13:12.24

Bolota Asmeron 13:15.16

Dathan Ritzenhein 13:16.06

Ian Dobson 13:18.87

Ryan Kirkpatrick 13:19.68

Jonathan Riley 13:19.92

Ed Moran 13:20.35

Josh McDougal 13:20.43

10,000 (27:50.00)

Abdi Abdirahman 27:31.46

Galen Rupp 27:33.48

Meb Keflezighi 27:41.26

Jorge Torres 27:42.91

Ed Moran 27:43.13

James Carney 27:43.64

I don't, because:

1) I don't have much talent

2) I don't train very hard

Interested Party wrote:

Tai Webb wrote:

That is the IAAF rule. USATF policies are that the team will be named at the end of the trials. So you either need to have the A going into the trials or get it at the trials. In the 1500, 5k and 10k, tactics could come into play (in the steeple, it seems to almost always take the A to be top 3).

Why has the USATF crippled itself? Do we not want to send the athletes who are competing the best at the trials and close to the games. That as opposed to some guy who qualified almost a year ago but isn't competing well now?

Wanna argue logistics? If you're a possible alternate, you know you gotta be ready. What's the deal?

Boy Interested party, you really are a whiner. The reasoning is quite logical - other countries are also doing this (like Canada). The USATF is trying to maximize the number of participants, while not having people scramble for standards AFTER the meet. Therefore the public gets to know the qualifiers by the end of the meet, not 2 months later. Then the athletes named to the team can actually prepare for the Olympics (barring injury) and other things can be attended to - like travel, visas, etc. Trying to get the standard after has also the problem of people getting stale by running to many meets in order to get the standard - not the best preparation for a championship.

Now it does beg the question of whether anyone with only a B would bother to run the trials knowing (if others already have a A in their event) that they can't make the team. But, of course, athletes can have many reasons for actually competing/participating in the trials as a meet in and of itself.

Secondly, the IAAF has little to do (really) with the IOC. What might be acceptable for Worlds might not be as appropriate for the Olympics - where Track (Athletics to the rest of the world) is just one of the many sports. The Public relations involved in naming a team at the conclusion of the trials is worthwhile - and all athletes and coaches know the score. If they don't then I really have little sympathy for them anyway (with some unusual extenuating circumstances excepted on a purely individual basis).

Now, one could (as have the Canadians) put a limit on how competitive a prospective Olympian needs to be at the trials themselves - not sure if this is included. For instance, limiting athletes with an A to at least be a finalist/Top 8 would provide some measure of competitive readiness. It's not a perfect system, and I would argue that, in fact, there isn't any such system - all have their flaws.

Ayasofya wrote:

10,000 (27:50.00)

Abdi Abdirahman 27:31.46

Galen Rupp 27:33.48

Meb Keflezighi 27:41.26

Jorge Torres 27:42.91

Ed Moran 27:43.13

James Carney 27:43.64

Looks like this might be the end of the road for Culpepper. No "A" and not entered in the 10,000 at Cardinal.

OK, let's update.

Lagat cruised his "A", so he's no covered at both the 1500 and 5,000.

Vaughn surprised with his.

K. Goucher and A. Goucher no-showed. Looks like Kara may be left with trying to get it at the Trials unless she can find a fast 10,000 somewhere soon. Adam needs a fast 5,000, but that will be considerably easier to find than a fast 10,000.

Culpepper has no "A" for the 10,000 and wasn't even entered here; is he done? Several guys now have the "A" and he could be left out in the cold, even if he wins the Trials.

The 1500s didn't live up to the hype; no "A" for anybody, right?

Ditto the 800s.

What/who else am I missing?

I noticed Lopez Lomong didn't perform "up-to-standard" and as of the list posted on here doesn't have the "A" yet... Many are picking him to be top 3 and qualify for the team. I know there is plenty of time and a fast 1500 isn't TOO hard to find. I like him and am pulling for him to make the team, but for a guy who "has a good shot" at making the team, 3:46 is not all that impressive...

can anybody that watched the race, and saw Lomong give us some insight as to what happened to him. Was it him? Did he look bad from the start? Lead early and just get winded?

Lomong fell.

Dr. Science wrote:

Lomong fell.

If true, then 3:46 with falling is pretty impressive.