Arkansas to host FAKE NATIONALS

One thing I have not seen mentioned: this is a direct result of the SEC not allowing out-of-conference travel during finals week, correct? As much as I abhor watering down great meets like Penn and Drake, I can't blame Arkansas for trying to make the most of a bad situation. Having the SEC relay meet was better than not seeing those teams run at all.

Redneck Sam I am wrote:

Arkansas a redneck state anyway

Were you raised on rap, by chance?

Penn Relays is the, by far, most compelling live track and field experience in the country. The venue allows the spectators right up the the side of the track (as opposed to the yawning stadiums with 20 yards between spectators and the track) with acoustics that are quick to pick up a rise in the spectator interest. You can feel a hum turn to buzz then to roar if someone moves hard on the back stretch.

I remember- year's ago- the Penn Relays track 10,000 and Road 20K were big deals.

A good friend ran the 10,000 a few times and the excitement of knowing a running buddy was racing elites on the track was great!

frogman42069 wrote:

One thing I have not seen mentioned: this is a direct result of the SEC not allowing out-of-conference travel during finals week, correct? As much as I abhor watering down great meets like Penn and Drake, I can't blame Arkansas for trying to make the most of a bad situation. Having the SEC relay meet was better than not seeing those teams run at all.

Doubt that’s true since several SEC teams went to Penn last year and several have it on their schedule this year.

Anyway, I expect this to be as wildly successful as last year’s SEC Relays, where admission was free yet LSU still had to bribe students to come (free food & other items) and the SEC Network declined to even webcast it.

What I really hate is that there are NO field events. I know that some in the sport would love to see this pass but for me, it's just another stupid idea.

Arkansas may still field a powerful track team but it is obvious that they sure as hell are not the Arkansas of old - in attitude or performance. This meet and their attitude so disgusts me. With Bucknam's desire to host a power 5 only NCAA Championship and now this, it seems he is doing everything the destroy what little tradition and success we have in the sport. The thought of losing Penn Relays and Drake (although I am NOT a Drake fan) is not good. I hope that enough coaches come to their senses and boycott the fake nationals. I honestly thought it was a joke when I heard about it. Who would be stupid enough...oh.

Pretty good relay team in that photo....

He needs something to take the attention away SEC Cross Country. I have a feeling they're going to lose tomorrow for only the second time since joining the SEC.

All of those teams should come to Penn where they could race the best sprint School in the Country at least on the Women's side Oregon. Oh well and GO DUCKS

C/M Runner wrote:

That's how I found Arkansas:

http://pennrelaysonline.com/History/team.aspx?s=1380

What's up with those 4xMile times from the 80s? 14:50s and 15 flat? Were they 4X1500s?

runn wrote:

wejo wrote:

There is nothing wrong with a compact track meet but I have a problem with them going up same weekend as Penn and Drake, not having the best schools, and pretending it's a national championship.

Is there a list of cumulative Penn/Drake titles by year somewhere. I couldn't find it.

Absolutely agree with you- we need some 2 hour, fast paced, meets to attract crowds. But Penn and Drake are perfect the way they are and there is no reason to mess with it.

We should all want to better the sport.

Attract crowds? How many people do you think it possibly could attract? Whatever it is it's going to be less than your average Arkansas home baseball game. Arkansas average over 6,000 per game in 2010. Those last longer than 2 hours.

Penn and Drake get 150,000 between the two of them. I'm not opposed to the concept (and think the Penn attendance figures are mainly teams/parents, etc) but you are going to dilute the other meets. No one cares about track except for the global championships for the same reason no one cares about pre-season football - it's an exhibition. Nothing matters. Winning Penn or Drake meant something but it won't mean anything if several of the best schools aren't there.

And don't get me started on the fact that they'll be keeping score in this meet. The score won't matter at all.

Since everybody hates this and is on their high horse about it....

Which schools attending this year were at Penn last year? I believe the answer is 0, 1 or 2 at the most. So yeah, this is just going to destroy Penn.

Yeah UH didn't get invited, because watching them run 9:50 in the DMR wouldn't be too exciting.

There is a field event section as well as an individual event section on the track for people to get their qualifiers if needed.

Then you say this should be held on another weekend? The purpose of this meet is to run fast and break some records. Hopefully by this point in time majority of The top guys will have their marks and can focus on their relays. By having it another weekend you are taking away another weekend solely focused on hitting those marks. Penn isn't what it used to be, and it sure as hell isn't focused on the collegiate anymore. So kudos to college coaches for doing something about it, and trying to get more camera time and attention for their athletes, instead of Jamaica Vs USA.

Yes? You sound like your'e arguing with people who agree with you.