In my opinion, there should be a penalty imposed on those who have been offered a World Team spot, then decide to opt out of it. USATF has to start getting a handle on this mentality that it's OKAY to skip a World Championship, that it's OKAY to not represent the US in distance running in Mombasa orBerlin. It's a real big problem. Rejecting a position to run the best marathon in the world - that comes around once ever two years (not including the Olympics, but some may argue the World Champs is STRONGER) is an insult to the integrity of the sport and it reflects very poorly on the country as a whole. In Kenya, it's a great honor to make this team. In Japan, it's a great honor. In America, it's a hassle. No wonder why Americans cannot seem to get over that hump in international competition.
The penalty I propose would be simple. If an athlete rejects an offer to join a world team of any kind, they immediately forfeit the next opportunity to join the same world team the next time around. It takes them out of the equation for other American runners who feel they can potentially step up and earn a spot. Instead, Ritz, Hall, Abdi, etc. just feel that they can go next year, if they desire, so why worry over it too much this time around...
Also, while I'm at it...there needs to be a penalty assessed in X-Country Nationals where the they continue to go 10-11-12 deep...Those who earn the money in the top spots should not be permitted to accept that money, and it should go to those athletes who have committed their time, effort, and attention to actually accepting the honor of competing in a World event. Usually these runners have no money to begin with, so $2,000 would go a long way into helping support their training and preparation for the World Championships.
USATF should offer a bonus to those who make a world team. Offer some incentive toward top runners turning down NYC or Chicago, etc. to represent the USA. I don't see why a $5,000 bonus could not be offered to those few athletes who have to dedicate themselves to a world team. It wouldn't be much, but it would be SOMETHING.
Perhaps, Mr. Logan needs to get his nose out Plato's Symposium and try to figure out a way to get our top runners to the World Championships...