The number of U.S. men to break 2:11:30 in the last 5 years is 9.
The number of U.S. men to break 2:11:30 in the last 5 years is 9.
How much do you think this will thin out the U.S. men's field at Chicago?
So now you can buy your way into the olympic marathon vs earning it by running fast? Will every country get to select their 3 reps?
Work Commute Track Club wrote:
Hobby trail jogger wrote:
There was just a need for USATF to clarify that they would allow qualification through world ranking provided the guy is top 3 in the trials. Unless you do think Jim Walmsley needs a free pass and should have a shot at the olympic team making his debut marathon at the trials?
This is the right answer. All USTAF had to do was recognise the ranking list way to qualify. The fact that the IAAF budged on this is pathetic. I'm a non US citizen and I need to jump through hoops to try to gain enough ranking points.
The top 3 at the trials will deserve to go. But it's unfair that they do not have to follow the process that the rest of the world does.
I hate the IAAF so much.
Sorry but I have no sympathy for you at all.
Americans will have 10+ athletes with a high enough ranking fighting for only three spots. More importantly, American athletes cannot just pick races to maximize their IAAF ranking because they have to run the Olympic Trials, which without this designation would have hurt their ranking. Furthermore, the new system came out after they had the trials all planned.
You still have a much easier path to the Olympics than American athletes. Whining about the IAAF won't help you.