NCAA School Rigs Last Chance Meet to Qualify for Nationals. Shameful if true.

Maybe the other school should have run faster?

Sounds like a crybaby. If they ran the time during the qualifying window, then it should be counted.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/sidearm.nextgen.sites/athletics.mountunion.edu/documents/2024/3/2/2024_Indoor_Last_Chance__1___002_.pdf

Mount Union is one of the classiest operations in the country. Coach Lucas is definitely not a cheater nor has ever cheated his way to the top. There has to be more to this story.

Sounds like the ncaa removed them and out Middlebury in according to Linh’s twitter.

And yet, here we are, where they went so far as to republish the schedule with a 5 hour break.

Let's say you're Joe's Timing Company, and your local school exclusively uses you for their meets. Certainly possible that the coach of that team could say "Hey, Joe, we need you to give our team some fast times, otherwise, you know, we're going to maybe find a new timer".

Obviously the situation in question here is even more messed up, but I have to imagine the above has happened a bunch too.

Is there a copy of the meet schedule from before the changes that we can cross reference?

Back in the early aughts, I ran in a small indoor last chance meet at an oddly sized track where the inside lanes were unused, the start/finish lines were reconfigured, and the races were hand timed. Incredible amount of season bests just under the IC4A qualifying mark.

Is it actually against the rules? Or just a smart work around?

Against the rules. Qualifier schedules have to be posted long in advance.

It’s time we organize a boycott!!!!

George Mason pulled this back in the 90s

Based on the video the time appears legit so the question is whether or not they followed the rules about hosting a meet and whether that was legitimate. Interesting question...

How does a solo team race count? Aren't 2 teams required?

I think its fair to criticize the way this went down, but I also have to admire the chutzpah of the coach to try and pull this off. I'm of two minds, where I wouldn't be upset if the NCAA dropped Mount Union from nationals for these shenanigans, and I also wouldn't be upset if they let them go to nationals since the time appears to be a legit qualifying time. I'd be really upset if they gave the team or the coach anything more than an "oh, YOU!" type reprimand over this, I love the boldness.

If you get bumped by a team that can basically decide on short notice to go run a solo time trial without spectators or competition, you’re really not in a position to complain.

Wow that was cool the whole team was there cheering! Everyone knew what was going on and it looked like a fun environment to run in. Good team-building regardless of whether they get in or not.