why are they so sure? What ever happened to giving them their moment of happiness and feeling of being an "olympian" instead of just putting them down and out of Bejing, right on the spot? In the past, they would mention that the 3rd place finisher, for example, might not have the A standard yet, but will 'be trying to get it over the next 5 weeks', giving them at least a hope getting it.
Where have you been?
The rules for this year state that the "A" standard must be met before July 6 (or July 7), but the Trials are the last chance.
So the announcers are quite correct.
I'm sure there are some races that are possible after a trials berth and before the 6th. But that would be quite a trip to make.
Maybe if we say its impossible that will make it true. Who are you Nicole Teeter's coach?
bigglesby wrote:
Maybe if we say its impossible that will make it true. Who are you Nicole Teeter's coach?
"In the event that a non Olympic "A" standard athlete places in a position that would make the Olympic Team at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field – and there are two or more athlete candidates in the final of said event who have met the Olympic "A" standard, the nominations to the Olympic Team will be awarded to up to three athletes per gender who have achieved the Olympic "A" standard, based on rank order of finish at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field."
Impossible.
Teter--and no I am not her coach. Keep your day job.
Let's say that the woman who finished 3rd were to find a track meet with the necessary equipment and officials to run it. What are the odds that she could turn around after that effort and run an "A" qualifier?
Pretty remote.
But I guess it would technically be possible.
Do you not get it? It doesn't matter if the IAAF allows it by a certain date. USATF HAS SAID THAT YOU MUST HAVE IT BY THE OLYMPIC TRIALS FINAL RACE THAT YOU ARE QUALIFYING FOR. NO EXCEPTIONS!!! END OF STORY!!
Technically no--the way I understand the rules is that the last chance to qualify for an event is in the finals-end of story!
Jill Geer of USATF said at the press conference this morning that USATF had to ask the IAAF for an extension on submitting entries for the Olympics...the deadline is next Tuesday.
Otherwise, I'd bet that Dana Pounds and Rachel Yurkovich would be throwing in the all-comers meet Wednesday night here in Eugene to try for the standard in the javelin.
As much as I was a fan of letting athletes chase standards afterwards, I'm now of the opinion that the system in place is the right one. We can go back and forth on this, but historically, folks that go chase standards in the period after the Trials and before the Games (or World Championships) usually don't do well when they get there.
ok; maybe the 'deadline, drop dead date has changed', but it seems like I recall in the 'old days', a top 3 qualifier, without the A standard would be chasing that standard in meets in Europe between the Trials and Olympics, and some would get it, some wouldn't. Am I crazy or was that the case?
let the air of the balloon wrote:
a top 3 qualifier, without the A standard would be chasing that standard in meets in Europe between the Trials and Olympics, and some would get it, some wouldn't. Am I crazy or was that the case?
I can't speak to your sanity but you are correct. Back in the day, appearance fees would be forgotten or greatly reduced to get into meets where they might have hit an "A" standard. All that has changed now.
In fact, if a meet director knew you needed an "A" mark, they could be a real jerk and only offer you a number in the race and a hotel room.
let the air of the balloon wrote:
I recall in the 'old days', a top 3 qualifier, without the A standard would be chasing that standard in meets in Europe between the Trials and Olympics, and some would get it, some wouldn't. Am I crazy or was that the case?
Yep, it was the case; it isn't now.
I think the current system is absolutely the way to handle it. That whole sad Suzi Favor situation was doubtless a catalyst: deliberate DNFs to hold onto a place on the team? (Okay, I probably have the details wrong, but it was a weird deal, for sure.)
Now the people who are on the team *know* who they are and can prepare for the Games appropriately; and those who missed know it, and can prepare for the rest of *their* season better.
To borrow a Monty Python phrase, the current method is "cruel, but fair."