B Trials Qualifiers Being Treated Separately than A Trials Qualifiers During the Race?

Another valid point! More media coverage? What difference will that make in the whole scheme of things.

Take care of the athletes NYRRC--it might be your stage but it's the A and B qualifiers perfoming on it.

Wait, so the top runners get stuff that the next tier doesn't get? Next thing you know varsity xc runners will be treated better than the jv squad. Collegiate runners will be getting better stuff than the club team at the same school. This is just crazy.

All runners who want bottles will be allowed to have them on race day. An email was sent out yesterday (18th). B qualifiers will have the chance to set out bottles. The playing field will be level after all.

Holding the trials in NYC (especially on NYCM weekend) only means that all B qualifiers knew going in that they were going to get raped on transportation, room, and board and they had only USATF and NYRRC to thank for it.

I find it funny that those who complain have no idea about bidding for an event, hosting an event, or the logistics of putting on the actual event. Also what is funny is how folks complained about BHam and all of its downsides--everyone was SO excited about NYC getting the event--seems like things have changed quite a bit, eh? (realize that it is a very small, yet vocal group)

NYRR will put on a great event, with great crowds, great media coverage, and great support. Logistics for B's are getting worked out, but it is not quite as easy as "putting out a few tables". Think about it---it is hundreds of bottles, and as someone mentioned even at events where there are only a few bottles on the tables mix ups happen, and athletes have a hard time figuring out which bottles are which.

we can send a man to the moon but we cannot figure out how to get a 100 water bottles on some tables? Please! Once again they did it in Birmingham, so it can be done!

Exactly.

The olympics trials aren't about who's an 'A' and who's a 'B'. Its about taking the best our country has to offer, putting them on a course, and letting them grip it and rip it with everyone having an equal playing field. Maybe 'A' guys should start 200 meters ahead of the 'B' guys too, just to show who's the real deal.

The hole A and B standard is stupid to me anyway.

But that's just it: our "B" qualifiers AREN'T our best. The "A" qualifiers are. They've run faster, so they're better. Sure, every once in a while you may have a heart-warming story like Brian Sell's to give hope to underdogs everywhere, but 95% of the contenders will always be "A" qualifiers.

I also like the idea of one standard: run 2:20 and you're in the race, run 2:20:01 and you're out. However, as hard as it is to believe, USATF is being generous by saying, "Hey, we realize 2:20 is pretty tough to run. If you can run within two minutes of that time and don't mind paying for a hotel room, feel free to show up and try your best."

YES, I highly recommend to all of you that you volunteer to man a table at the event. That way, if one of the runners tests positive for some kind of PED, they can sue you for tampering with their bottles.Just relax yourselves... NYRR is taking care of it. You all did a great job, though, starting a movement.

rbyrne wrote:

Joe Mc Veigh and Weldon, I too would be willing to man a table to ensure that all runners get their fluids. Weldon, you have my POC info call to discuss. Joe, you know where to get a hold of me. And yes, 2004 Olymic trials allowed eveyone to fill their bottles the night before and had them placed on tables. Why don't they just bring in the same guy that did it for us in 04. I mean I was an A qualifier and I think everyone was treated equally @ the 04 trials. We all went to the same functions we all rode the same shitty buses to the start, and we all had fluids.....

Best Wishes,

Rich Byrne

Ol Grumpus wrote:

Yes, and those sorts of difference occur in all races. But once the race begins, everyone should be treated equally.

no they should not

and here come the pretzels wrote:

But that's just it: our "B" qualifiers AREN'T our best. The "A" qualifiers are. They've run faster, so they're better. Sure, every once in a while you may have a heart-warming story like Brian Sell's to give hope to underdogs everywhere, but 95% of the contenders will always be "A" qualifiers.

Then why have "B" qualifiers to begin with. The idea of a trial is to put everyone one the starting line with an equal opportunity to succeed. That's how you determine who the best is. The "B" standard can have all the differences on the planet in terms of funding to get to the race and boarding for the race, but when the gun goes off, it's stupid that group "B" isn't treated the same as group "A".

We aren't talking about running chicago or boston where you're paying elites to come race so your marathon is considered the best in the world, we're talking about a TRIAL that decides our Olympic team. Whether or not a B guy could win is irelevant, its about the integrity of the race. We don't have B qualifiers in track run an extra lap and say, "you should just be happy you made it".

Like I said, funding and what not, I can understand, but when it comes to the actual race, especially one that decides the olympic team, should be equal for everyone.

Giddy wrote:

Like I said, funding and what not, I can understand, but when it comes to the actual race, especially one that decides the olympic team, should be equal for everyone.

Like I said, no it should not.

gainsayer wrote:

Like I said, no it should not.

Care to provide a few reasons as to why they shouldn't be treated equally once the race starts?

ok I will bite wrote:

gainsayer wrote:

Like I said, no it should not.

Care to provide a few reasons as to why they shouldn't be treated equally once the race starts?

Well, to carry it reducto ad absurdum, in almost every race, there's a line drawn somewhere as to who gets elite treatment (special buses to the start, their own warmup area, drink tables, etc) - look at any race like NY, Boston, Chi - they determine that only the top XX runners will be designated as such.

Essentially, that's what was being done here - the A guys were the "elite" runners in the race, the B guys were "open" runners. I don't ncessarily think that's right, but it seems like the organizers frew the "elite/open" special treatment line at 2:20.

JimG wrote:

Well, to carry it reducto ad absurdum, in almost every race,

The olympic Trials isn't "every race" it's THE race. If you are qualified you get equal treatment, with the exception of expenses.

I didn't say I agreed with it (I don't), just posed a possible explanation of their reasoning.

Like I've said before, if the NYRR can't treat the athletes as well or better than previous Trials, then they shouldn't have bid for them. Part of taking on the Trials is providing bottles for everyone in the race. It's been done at previous Trials and should be the same this go round and in the future. It sounds like the issue is being addressed in the manner it should, and if so, all is well. If not, then shame on the NYRR for not doing a better job and shirking one of the responsibilities of hosting the Trials. See you in NY!

ok I will bite wrote:

Care to provide a few reasons as to why they shouldn't be treated equally once the race starts?

One reason only: They are B qualifiers not A qualfiers.

Anyway, I'm just following the example set by the previous poster who lives under the delusion that somehow merely repeating his opinion again and again somehow adds weight to it.

just my opinion wrote:

Like I've said before, if the NYRR can't treat the athletes as well or better than previous Trials, then they shouldn't have bid for them. Part of taking on the Trials is providing bottles for everyone in the race. It's been done at previous Trials and should be the same this go round and in the future. It sounds like the issue is being addressed in the manner it should, and if so, all is well. If not, then shame on the NYRR for not doing a better job and shirking one of the responsibilities of hosting the Trials. See you in NY!

Deena Kastor will be getting better treatment at NYC than the B qualifiers.