Glenn Latimer - Qualifying Standards Contradiction?

clarksonxc · 2010-03-03T16:18:22-05:00

To me it looks like Latimer contradicts himself in regards to the new qualification standard for the Olympic Trials Marathon. Quote from interview #1: "That’s simple. To pick the best U.S. runners for the Olympics, and to give them a chance to run their best in the Olympics. I know there’s a counter argument about Trials qualifying. I know there are some people who think we should let in a lot of 2:30 runners in the hope that they’ll be inspired to run 2:12 in a few years. But that’s ridiculous. Anyone who studies the sport knows that things don’t happen that way..." http://racingnews.runnersworld.com/2010/03/a-brief-chat-with-guy-morse-and-glenn-latimer.html Quote from interview #2: "After college I played semi-pro soccer, coached a top level of high school soccer, and ran for fun, and played cricket and basketball. A year after I came to the USA, we arranged for the semi-pro soccer team to come over here on a tour. Warming up for a match in Camp Randall in Madison, WI, I tore my cartilage in my knee. After surgery I decided to quit soccer and to start running again. I ran my first marathon in 1980 in 3:20, and then improved over the next two years to 2:23:41. I also ran 31:44 for 10K and 51:47 for 10 miles. Nothing earth shattering, but I knew how to train to maximize by limited ability." http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/3/3_1/glenn-latimer-new-usatf-m.shtml It would seem to me that judging from his own experience, where he improved from 3:20 to 2:23, it would be feasible for someone who has run 2:30 to be 'inspired enough' to run 2:12 eventually. I don't think it's extremely likely that a 2:30 guy would eventually make the team, but you never know. Taking this into consideration, I would think he would be more inclined to include the 2:30 guys, knowing perfectly well the improvements he made. Thoughts?

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16 years ago 03/12/2010 6:52am EST

re: scotth

scotth wrote:
sorta kinda wrote:
Scott,
You are wrong on a couple of levels. The 2:19 standard was 100% the idea of Glenn Latimer. He brought it up for discussion in Hawaii in 2007. Some of us at the meeting suggessted that we take it back to the athletes to see what they thought. Glenn realized that although there was a small turn out, he had the votes and then and only then did he decide to bring it to a vote. Jim Estes was embarrassed that it was pushed through without most of the MLDR community being aware that it was even going to be discussed.
I was there and I voted for the 2:19 change because I think it was the right thing to do. However, it was 100% the idea of Glenn.
As The Dude would say - 'New shit has come to light'. However, tonite I'm too tired to get into it. Tomorrow.

First, forgive me for quoting all the stuff above. I needed some context and we're onto a new thread page.

The 'new shit' I describe above is actually old shit. As I said elsewhere here, I was made to understand the 2:19 standard was brought up by folks other than Glenn. I looked for the source of my understanding & I present my findings:

Meeting minutes of the MLDR Executive Committee from '07-

http://www.usatf.org/about/committees/LongDistanceRunning/MensLDR/minutes/2007-11-29.asp

And, meeting of MLDR delegates-

http://www.usatf.org/about/committees/LongDistanceRunning/MensLDR/minutes/2007-11-30.asp

There are the nuts & bolts of the meetings. Perhaps 'sorta kinda' had a different take on what took place? Saw the meeting dynamics in a different way?

16 years ago 03/12/2010 9:42am EST

re: scotth

scotth wrote:
And, meeting of MLDR delegates-
http://www.usatf.org/about/committees/LongDistanceRunning/MensLDR/minutes/2007-11-30.asp
"...discussion focused on the facts that this will create a standard that eliminates the current two-tiered standard system ("A" and "B" standards), and might produce a trials field of 65 to 85 athletes-a manageable size for the hosts which will also reduce some of the substantial financial burden imposed on the organizers."

On the other hand, establishing an "A" standard of 2:14 and a "B" standard of 2:24 would also cultivate a small field that is easily manageable for the hosts... perhaps 300 athletes. And making the "B" standard athletes pay their own expenses would reduce the so-called substantial financial burden even further!

14 years ago 03/05/2012 8:17am EST

re: okay!!!!!!!!!!

okay!!!!!!!!!! wrote:
To all of you asking for a good reason not to allow 2:20 guys at the trials, here's one for you:
YOU DON'T BELONG THERE!
The trials are there for the sole purpose of choosing the Olympic team. That's it. If you're not a serious contender to do that, you do not belong! Go back to dominating your local joggerville 5k and leave the real runners alone!
And don't give us this garbage about "development" (I HATE that term, by the way). If you want to improve from 2:25 to 2:20...great, go do it. No one will try to stop you. Knock yourself out. If you truly feel you need the trials as a motivator to improve, then you're a mental weakling and don't belong in the sport anyway.
So to all you 2:20+ marathoners...stay the hell away from the trials and leave it for the real runners. You're not good enough. Deal with it.
Whiney little losers.

Post of the year!

14 years ago 03/05/2012 10:32am EST

re: Nominating committee

okay!!!!!!!!!! wrote:
To all of you asking for a good reason not to allow 2:20 guys at the trials, here's one for you:
YOU DON'T BELONG THERE!
The trials are there for the sole purpose of choosing the Olympic team. That's it. If you're not a serious contender to do that, you do not belong! Go back to dominating your local joggerville 5k and leave the real runners alone!
And don't give us this garbage about "development" (I HATE that term, by the way). If you want to improve from 2:25 to 2:20...great, go do it. No one will try to stop you. Knock yourself out. If you truly feel you need the trials as a motivator to improve, then you're a mental weakling and don't belong in the sport anyway.
So to all you 2:20+ marathoners...stay the hell away from the trials and leave it for the real runners. You're not good enough. Deal with it.
Whiney little losers.

This post should be on the letsrun front page.

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