We asked Demarius Smith, who was in the middle of the delayed second exchange Friday night and had the slowest split today, if he was beinng personally coached by US relay coach Darryl Woodson. Smith: "There's no proof of that. That's first. Second of all, it doesn't matter...Keep doubting me. I'll be back."
Couldn't sleep. Woke up at 4 hrs sleep to try to watch it. Of course, all of the tv providers in the USA are blocking our VPNs.
Someone keep me updated on what is happening.
Time change still has me confused. I'm going back to bed. Maybe Jonathan can teach me how to use this Japanese tv.
Screw it. I'm going to the stadium. Since I'm up, I might as well get my run in and take my stopwatch and get accurate splits. Boots on the ground baby!!
the real problem with the 4x400 isn't handoff confusion, but having the handoffs so close to the turn. Everyone is immediately squeezed together right after the exchange.
It would be hard to start the relay on the straightaway, every existing track would have to be repainted. But there's also no particular reason why the exchange zone should be so short. Extend it further back on the straightaway and teams will have more room to make clean exchanges.
The exchange zone is 20 meters long, starting 10 meters before the start/finish line and ending 10 meters after.
yes, and why not let it start farther ahead of the s/f line than that?
Does any team gain an unfair advantage if they hand off at 380m instead of 390m? It's still 4 runners going a total 1600m. 400m each is presumed optimal, so why should it be mandatory?
I would be mighty interested to see a 50m long exchange zone that could encourage some strategy in a team that had shorter sprint types and 800 types. Have your 200m runner hand off 50m out to your 800 runner.
Screw it. I'm going to the stadium. Since I'm up, I might as well get my run in and take my stopwatch and get accurate splits. Boots on the ground baby!!
Another sh*tshow brought to you by USATF decisions and team coach selections. Why we expect professional outcomes from completely incompetent organization is beyond me. Officials on site also made mistake and I agree just let them all into final is best solution. What happens if there is controversy in the run-off?
How the hell were Zambia disqualified? If you are placed there by the officials then surely your not responsible.
i saw the Australian situation and oh well that’s life.
Brazil were done over due to the same rule as the Australians?
Zambia seem to be hard done by.
Because a similar thing happened in the next exchange which is why Kenya are in this "run-off".
That wasn't an officials blunder but honestly I don't blame Zambia in that instance either. So this time Zambia were placed on the outside of Kenya because they were behind them with 200 to go. But the problem was the Zambian guy just inched every so slightly ahead of the Kenyan guy up the home straight and because they can't quickly swap spots (because of the idiotic rule), the Zambian guy is forced to cross in front of the Kenyan guy just to make the handoff. Like what else is he supposed to do here? Give up the lead he worked for and cut in behind the guy at the finish so the correct "order" is maintained? That is effing idiotic, scusa il mio Italiano. Even more stupid was DQ'ing Zambia - they finished outside of a qualifying spot anyway and as Rojinho said, they were just as messed up by the officials here at least once and should be in this run-off.
I think that just like the tush push next season, there is going to be a rules rethink on this one and we go back to the older interpretation which while it might seem more chaotic, actually reduces chaos - line them up in the order at 200 but let them re-order as things get more locked in coming into the home straight.
Please explain why Kenya and USA do not have to run faster than Japans 2:59.74 to be added to the final, when S. Africa has to beat a certain time to be added to the 4x1 final.
Vince Matthews Fan, Just some frivilous Trivia, My Race Be Won, By 1972 Olympic 400 Meter Runner, was the First Book I ever read, Not Counting Comic Books. Probaly was about 10-11, After That, Read books regularly.
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I still don't understand the ruling. The US wasn't involved in the scrum, they were well clear of the whole thing. Did they say it was after the exchange?
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