Your example of JONESY doing the bus on DAVIES, Confirms that Davies should not be picked for 10k, only the 5k after his sutton pk run,and that the other two should not be going. " A GOOD DEBATE " above is spot on, there needs an explanation from UKA, as selection was not based on what they laid down as the critera for selection.
I DONT THINK McCORMICK KNOWS HIMSELF WHAT HE'S BEST AT, ie 1500 OR 5000m, hence the change of coach.
He knows.He just isn't saying.
What do you think?
I think you have a point and I would perhaps agree that Davies should have a 5K place not 10K, taking his current form into account. I don`t think you can doubt Davies`s potential at 10K but its disappointing that Davies never races to that potential. He always appears to want to take it on too early and generally fades big time as the race moves beyond 5K.Not sure what options UKA had though and not sure that UKA have to explain their selection.Wales can put out a reasonable threesome though with Brown, Davies and Jones.
should they not be answerable to the people/athletes they serve, or do suggest that they are above all that, ie " a law unto themselves".
The question is do they serve athletes? Is that UKA's job? If it is, they are answerable to the athletes and the clubs.
On the other hand, if they have to serve their main paymasters then it's either the sponsors or UK Sport and sportengland with no need then to explain anything to anyone else in athletics.
This is at the crux of everything that is being discussed here: sponsors' needs; funding agencies' needs. Like it or lump it, in the main UKA has to rely on sponsorship and government funding to pay for the bulk of its activities. Results are needed and they feel that the team selected will give them those results. AND, I assume that they feel those athletes who have been the subject of some vitriol on this board JB and NMcM will deliver in Japan AND later in the year. Good luck to them and the others.
The people/athletes didn`t vote the selectors into their posts, unlike the situation with Local Councillors / MP`s etc.
So strictly, do UKA have to answer to the people/athletes?
I am not sure but on the above basis I would think not?
If the clubs looked after the athletes interests,and the AAA used to reppresent the clubs, then surely UKA have a similar duty now.
If the clubs looked after the athletes interests,and the AAA used to reppresent the clubs, then surely UKA have a similar duty now.
SELLECTION POLICIES IN ALL SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE ALLWAYS BASED ON, "form" (current)not on who's the most tallented,if the best player is not in FORM he does not get picked,end of story.
The Winter Selection policy published by UKA with regard to Ekiden states ... "It is UK Athletics intention to support this event with its strongest possible team...". I believe they have done this.
The policy document continues ..."There will be no official trial race for the Chiba Ekiden. Performances throughout the autumn 2007 road season, the UK Champs 10k at Chichester on the 7th October 2007 and the National 4 and 6 stage relays on the 20th October 2007 will be considered as part of the selection process."
This last statement seems to be intentially vague. I think the key words are that Chichester and Sutton Park are only PART of the selection process.
Davies and Morris impressed at Sutton Park and were subsequently selected. The intention of UKA is though to send the strongest team possible. Webb, Tickners, Nicholls, Wicks are all good athletes but they are 14min 5km runners (or just under) at the moment. They are not yet what you would 'international class'.
McCormick and Brown are clearly international class. Brown might not be in 27.20 10km shape anymore but I bet he's coming into shape to run at least 28.30. Nichols and Wicks might run blinders and run this sort of time but I think most people would bet on Brown beating them by a reasonable amount.
McCormick had a disapointing summer by his standards but he is a class act and ran 13.25 last year. If he concentrates on the 5km next year he is one of the few British athletes who could hit the Olympic qualifying time. With Chris Thompson injured he is our only international standard 5km runner (apart from Mo) and with the intention of picking a competitive team, one can understand why he was picked.
Hopefully next year a few of our 14min 5km runers will have progressed into the 13.30s and low 13.40s. If that happens, I would have thought they would then be serious contenders for the Ekiden team.
SELLECTION POLICIES IN ALL SPORTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE ALLWAYS BASED ON, "form" (current)not on who's the most tallented,if the best player is not in FORM he does not get picked,end of story.
I'm trying to see if there is a hidden message in this post with overcooking of the 'l's eg SELL ection ALL ways TALL ented SELL ALL TALL? TALL ALL SELL? ALL TALL SELL? I give in. I need a clue.
End of STOREY?
Is McCormick not wanting to do 1500 next year? He is still a class act whatever.
So remind me.
Who should clearly be in the team that isn't?
so now lets grt back to picking FORM not talent
Form is fleeting , talent isn't. There is nobody on the men's side who can realistically claim to be better on form than Davies if last week has anything to go by, and McCormick and Brown have plenty of talent and would not run if they did not have some form or were not able to convince selectors that they will be in form when necessary.
I think we are maybes forgeting here that the selectors chose them after a few hours of debate.The runners did not choose the selectors or themselves.The women's pre-selections are a different matter but everyone is forgetting that.No arguments with Sophie or Reed but the other young woman has no form at all in senior events as far as I know.
As someone who knows both phil nicholls and frank well they were asked if they wanted to do ekidens right after the relays- (Frank was actually asked before after his southern run)- but both declined to focus on the European cross and subsequently the trial. It was however confusing as to what UKA's policy on selection was- both were asked if they wanted to do ekidens-- then told- you wont be selected for euros if you accept- so they had no choice but to opt for one over the other. Whilst the Ekiden is a great event im sure many would agree that European cross would be better.
Get off my back.....I`m doing a good job.
I was forced to pick Brown as all the best runners wanted to fry bigger fish with the Europeans.
From what I've heard Frank was actually offered pre-selection for Euros if doing Ekiden. Selection always difficult when different surfaces are involved - road and cross don't necessarily mix, so bit of a headache for UKA.
Well I think the whole thing stinks.
Mo withdraws from the team and UKA are saying that they think the next best person in shape is Nick Mc/Jon B?? Chris Davies has justified his place...over 5km!!
One thing that should be acknowledged great run from Dave Webb. Surely justified a place in the team though rather than a track 5km. But fair play it's his first GB vest I believe
As for the guy who mentioned JB and his mizuno sponsorship, WTF UKA are sponsored by adidas and it really is a joke if that has some bearing. And what about the comment made by some other poster that Brown would beat Nicholls and Wicks convincely - Id put money on that he wouldnt if he beat them at all!
No one is slating Mc or Brown as they are two of the UKs best distance runners but is it fair that a GB vest is given to athletes that don't need to race to prove their fitness?
I know for a fact Wicksy wasn't offered it, Id take a guess and say Nicholls wasn't offered a place either. Yet they both had great summers and have started their respective winters well.
What UKA needs to understand is that places in teams like this give people belief and encouragement.
Read the post from Name Names again to see some of the issues involved in this one. Someone has also said Phil Nicholls was offered a place.
You'd take Wicks? So would you preselect him for the Europeans or rule him out altogether? Ekidens are a day before the trial. If I were a UKA selector I'd be looking at getting the European XC team right ahead of the Ekidens.
There's no clash with the European Cross for Brown and Nick McC. I'm guessing they've done something to convince selectors they are in good enough shape to warrant being there.
I'm sure Brown/Mizuno has nothing to do with it. As you say UKA is adi so why would they care? Although there is a bit of a possibility the Japanese connection may have made Brown look to make himself available.
I'd disagree with Midlandsdemon in that I don't think UKA's one or the other option put to people was confusing - physically you can't do Ekidens and the trial. Simple as that. The only other option is to pre-select. It is a tough call, though, if someone thinks they may or may not make the European team and risks doing neither by saying no to Ekiden. I'd say the answers of the guys reflects their ability and belief that they think they can be in the European's team which is a more important race.