In an attempt to be equal, USATF will only take the top 6 from San Diego to Worlds. This way than can be consistent in all races. Sorry for 7th-9th in the mens senior race.
In addition you must be in the top 6 to go to Worlds. If anyone in the top 6 declines their position they will not go further down the results to take a full team. This decision is so that they are only sending our best.
We have become Canada.
If you're correct than why would they award money to the 7th, 8th and 9 runners as a bonus for running at worlds.
That means that last year we would of only taken 2 guys in the mens senior race. Spence and Sabatino.
The only sent 8 last year and awarded money to 7th-9th as well. There was some big time bitching about it as well.
Don't shoot the messanger. I totally disagree with the decision. My coach heard it from the USATF office. He called Indy today because he didn't want to send us out there under last years rules.
Another strong decision made by USATF without any consideration in developing athletes.
If you're a developing athlete and don't finish in the top six at the USA xc meet, then obviously there's plenty of competition for you here in the states, so going overseas isn't necessary. The world xc meet is for the best athletes in the world. Do you want to send another C team like we did last year?
I don't agree with this decision (if it's true, I haven't checked), but I wish people would stop using the "this is going to kill the developing athlete" hyperbole.
it seems chuck d got his way....there is no incentive to run well at worlds xc. it is a joke they are giving away $1200 to the winner in sd. then $800 if you are the first usa runner or the 9th usa finisher at worlds. lets runners would be crying if they did this at usatf or olympic marathon trials.
the best runners in the world are also very good xc runners.
It is my understanding USATF refused to send the ASU girl Hardt (3rd) to Mombasa because all others in the top 6 junior girls refused to go.
Can anyone confirm?
[quote]run_away_free wrote:
it seems chuck d got his way....there is no incentive to run well at worlds xc. it is a joke they are giving away $1200 to the winner in sd. then $800 if you are the first usa runner or the 9th usa finisher at worlds. lets runners would be crying if they did this at usatf or olympic marathon trials.
the best runners in the world are also very good xc runners.[/quot]
you say that there is no incentive to run well at world cross country, i strongly disagree besides up to 30k individually and 20k teamwise, among your running peers, being that cross country can have everyone from 1500 runners to steetlers to 5/10k runners, road runners to marathoners and the fact distance power countries like kenya and ethiopia and everyone else get 9 runners each, compared to the olympics with 3 or world champs in track a country can get up to 4 if that country has a returning champion. this is THEE toughest race in the world to win bar none.
i think it is stupid to only take 6 men instead of the allowable 9, and the excuse they are giving that the women can only get 6 is weak in that in the women only 4 score, so two could run terrible, dropout etc. and it would not effect the team score, whereas men the top 6 score which means 5 guys could run the race of their lives and if 1 guy runs subpar or dropsout it ruins the whole teams day. remember in the heat of mombasa last year 6 of the 9 ethiopians had to drop out.
I really hope this is just a rumor and is not really true. This sort of policy would be an embarassment, both to USATF and to the USA in general. Our team is suppossed to represent our country and I don't believe this sort of policy reflects our countries values. And I definately don't want to hear about money like their excuse for only sending 8 last year. They have enough money to have the USATF conference in Hawaii, but not enough to send a full team. The USATF administration blows and it is time for some new blood in this organization.
Although it doesn't suprize me, I was hoping to finish in the top 15 and squeeze into the top 9 after drops. The top 6 is probably not realistic. Bizuneh, Carney, Fam, Rohatinsky, Hall and Torres are certainly better than I am. That is just off the top of my head. There is probably another 6 that can beat a 28:45 guy.
Fam has never run good cross country.
you misinterpreted what i meant. there is no $ incentive being provided by USATF to run usa champs or xc worlds.
we use to be a world xc power house with some stellar performances in the 70's and even the early 80's.
usatf is supposed to represent all aspects of elite running. i think the USATF ultra team or mountain running teams get more money they are providing at XC champs!
it is sad that they give more money away for 8km road race than a USATF Championships that serves as selection race for a World Team!
I have stated this on several threads in the past and people don't seem to get it. USATF DOES NOT PROVIDE PRIZE MONEY. Prize money comes from whoever is putting on the race. This is true of the Olympic Trials all USATF Road Championships and USATF Cross-Country. That is why the money is inconsistent from one year to the next. It depends on who wins the bid to host the national championship. USATF does however take from an event. They require travel and housing to be provided by the host for a certain number of USATF slap dicks.
Yet another spin and weakness by the so called rich USA,and bull USATF, they fear the africans ofcourse what else?
I do not believe this rumor. Last year there was talk of limiting how deep (at the qualifier) they would go to get the 9 runners (to represent us in Mombasa). As a matter of fact they stopped after getting 7 athletes. I yelled and screamed that it was not in print anywhere prior to the event. They agreed with me and allowed Marty Rosendahl to participate in Mombasa. If USATF plans to limit the participation in World Cross in any way shape or form, then it should have been printed on the registration form. This would insure that no one was being misled prior to buying plane tickets and booking rooms. I stated this a year ago and everyone involved agreed with me that this should be in print prior to registration for the event. This is not something that you can spring on athletes at the technical meeting, as it is far too late at that point.
Mr. Hanson,
I have great respect for what you do, but you are awfully naive if you believe that USATF would make their constituents aware of a change prior to an event. They are incompetent.
The USATF is "raising the bar" which to them is "development."
This is like the NFL only letting the starters play in the super bowl. Sorry back-up QB, there are plenty of pick-up games at the park.