USATF completely botches selection of 2019 Pan American Games team

ah, yes. Blame it on the intern.

USATF is a joke wrote:

So I have spoken to an affected athlete and all I can say is USATF's attempt to cover it up may lead to several lawsuits because of those. Here is what I know, USATF went against their published rules and changed the selection parameters they tried to cover it up and hoped no one would notice by editing their online roster. BUT, when USATF "silently edited" the roster online (reformatting it under the 6/24 date) they didn't inform the arbitrator so the arbitrator didn't know to contact those athletes whose names were removed and inform them of the hearing. So several athletes found out that there was a hearing on Wednesday via social media. It's a mess.

The arbitrator isn't the one who did the contacting though. It was USATF. I don't think it would ever be an arbitrator's job to do something like that.

But it definitely does appear that many affected athletes were not notified. The USOC is not going to be happy about this...

Any affected athletes should reach out to the USOC ombudsman ASAP

These athletes need to file a USOC Section 10 complaint citing section 8.7 subsection g).

This clear states that "An Olympic, Pan American and Paralympic Sport Organization, in order to fulfill its membership obligations and to be considered a member in good standing with the corporation shall:"

"establish a written procedure, approved by a Designated Committee (as defined in Section 8.8.1 of these Bylaws) of the NGB or PSO, or if no such Designated Committee exists, by the NGB or PSO Board, and thereafter approved by the corporation, to fairly select athletes and team officials for the Olympic, Paralympic or Pan American Games teams, and, upon approval, timely disseminate such procedure to the athletes and team officials"

Which happened and states they will use the 2019 list and it was clearly approved, and thus not selecting based on that procedure is in clear violation of this subsection, and will most definitely put USATF in hot(ter) water

Get rid of USATF for a far better body. Same for the terrible IAAF.

tusanads wrote:

Get rid of USATF for a far better body. Same for the terrible IAAF.

How can we remove them?

wejo wrote:

We updated Rojo's article with the following:

We’ve heard from a source who was offered an explanation for the snafu by someone at USATF. The explanation is that an intern at USATF did not properly sort a spreadsheet containing top marks in each event that was supposed to incorporate marks from 2018 and 2019.

They let an INTERN do this? And didn't double check? Wow.

darkwave wrote:

wejo wrote:

We updated Rojo's article with the following:

We’ve heard from a source who was offered an explanation for the snafu by someone at USATF. The explanation is that an intern at USATF did not properly sort a spreadsheet containing top marks in each event that was supposed to incorporate marks from 2018 and 2019.

They let an INTERN do this? And didn't double check? Wow.

They couldn't care any less than they do. Their aim is to get their paycheck and leave for the day. I doubt many of them are even track and field fans. It's pretty frustrating.

I wonder if it was a different intern who wrote the procedures and dated them December 2019..

This harkens back to the days of the AAU...where is PRE when we need him? Athletes, stand up and be heard, you are the only ones who have any power in this debacle.

Any one who can read can see wrote:

What it say is that the qualifying window for the Pan Am minimum mark achievement is for between January 1 2018 and June 23 2019. That is entirely different than the selection procedure... There is absolutely no argument for using the 2018/2019 list. They give a link to the list they will use for the procedure, and again its the 2019 list...

What I don't understand is why they decided to use the 2018-19 list? What administrator thought it would be a good idea to take people who were good last year but aren't in form this year? Normally when people do stuff it's to benefit someone and I'm trying to figure out who they wanted to help.

Like what's the rationale for it?

Or do they just not understand track at all and not realize that if you ran fast in 2018 but are injured in 2019 you won't be any good?

darkwave wrote:

They let an INTERN do this? And didn't double check? Wow.

But an interen shouldn't have been combining the 2018 and 2019 lists to begin with as they said they'd only use the 2019 list. Again, why did they switch? Who was going to benefit or who thought this would somehow help Team USA?

So eveybody just drop out of usatf and start a new organisation!

They are still picking the team incorrectly. The rules clearly say the team will be picked off of 2019 marks.

https://i.ibb.co/Tbw8q2z/Screenshot-2019-06-27-at-09-45-48.png

The only mention of 2018 is for achieving the minimum qualifying mark. That is something completely else.

I believe 90%+ of athletes and people who know about track and field and read the selection procedures would think the team is being picked off of 2019 marks.

It's impossible to tell how many people are being deprived of their legitimate spot on the team because some athletes decline spots when selected but if you know of athletes who want a spot from their 2019 marks and didn't get one email us at

letsrun@letsrun.com

I always love when it's the Intern's fault. So many organizations trust critical tasks to Interns? Is no one approving their work. Shouldn't they call out their manager and director for not verifying their work.

We ALL know this was not an intern mistake, it was probably someone in a senior position making a futile attempt to cover up 'gerrymandering '

PoleVaultPower: A quick clarification. When USATF pulled out of Staten Island they did not have ABQ secured. In fact, the date they wanted was already contracted. There was an open date, but it was too late for them. Yes, they asked about the contracted date and facility, but it took lots of negotiation to have a chance to make it work. Actually, it still isn't settled, and USATF will have to make some serious concessions if they want the ABQ facility. It is just more of USATF incompetence that permeates everything about the sport. I still want to know how USATF pulled out of Staten Island even though they had a firm contract. I know why they did it, but I am just curious how they broke the contract. Do you have any info.

Okay, back to the topic about USATF treating athletes like garbage.

What can we do to hold USATF accountable and demand ACTUAL change from the top on down? This situation is extremely upsetting. As a running community we cannot let USATF get away with this. The ineptitude has gone on too long with no consequences. I am just frustrated that I don't know what we as fans and active participants in our sport can do...

These guys continue to prove their incompetence over and over. What are the underlying problems that cause such consistent failure over there?

Do they not have the staff they need? Are they totally underfunded? Are they totally unqualified?

We hate on them all the time, rightfully so. But, what do they need to do to get a fucking baton around the track and start thinking before they literally do anything.

Dododoha wrote:

Dan Lilot wrote:

CIM is downhill and point-to-point, but it's still an IAAF approved course (i.e. for rankings purposes).

Both downhill and point-to-point performances can be used for Pan-Am meet standards and times for USATF selection.

Then why can’t CIM be used for WC?

The IAAF doesn't use downhill courses for qualifying standard purposes. The Pan-Am Games, not an IAAF event, decides their own criteria.

polevaultpower wrote:

????????? wrote:

How do you know or are you just speculating?

People from ABQ told me. Who knows when contracts will be finalized and an announcement made, probably not for awhile. But I think USATF made sure ABQ could do 2020 before they pulled out of NY.

Busy few weeks in ABQ; Mountain West, USATF, NCAAs.