Not horrific, wrote:
Ackley wrote:
I agree that the field was too big in 2020 (especially for the women) but I like a field in the hundreds. I don't think the times need to be cut that much if #1 is implemented. According to the 2020 Trials site, the median men's qualifying time was 2:17:28 and the women's median qualifying time was 2:42:48.
Those times are nowhere near qualifying for the Olympics. Why should a race held ostensibly to choose the Olympic team, have entry standards achievable by people with no chance to make the Olympic team?
To grow the sport and maintain what momentum is there. Otherwise, many would quit after college as there is a huge gap between elite and boston qualifier, in terms of talent and ability, it may even be bigger than between trials qualifier and elite. Instead of a few thousand serious marathoners, we'd have maybe the top 30 or so 5/10 guys run Chicago and Boston after college to see if they have a shot. Races like CIM, Grandmas, and Houston benefit hugely from the existence of the olympic trials. Its the time standard, not the $2000 prize purses that drive low 220s guys.
The trials would allow usatf to put on and sell a bunch of other road races, making money in the process (like the usatf road championship) if they had a half brain and cared about anything other than a ceo living the high life. Hell, even the trials could make money - charge $5 to stream the one race instead of sell it as part of a stupid subscription. Earlier in the thread it was mentioned over a million people watch the trials. I'm sure the trials could be put on, complete with a modest prize purse, for under 4 million...