There are only 5 athletes that have declared for this weekends womens 3k and 2 of the 5 are in the 1500 as well. Why is it that there is zero depth in the womens post collegiate distance runners?
There are only 5 athletes that have declared for this weekends womens 3k and 2 of the 5 are in the 1500 as well. Why is it that there is zero depth in the womens post collegiate distance runners?
There's not much depth in collegiate distance running either. I had an athlete run 9:13 in the NCAA indoor meet in 1984 and not make the final. But the bottom line is, they are not being encouraged to participate in a long range plan. Few realize that they early 80's was not only a boom time for marathoners but female distance runners (1500-10,000m) in this country as well. If you were to look at the outdoor 3000m at USATF meet in 1983 for example, it was a veritible who's who of distance running in this country....and the same athletes were turning in outstanding results 10 and 15 years later! We then got a nice crop of runners out of programs like Villanova from the late 80's and early 90's, but the talent has dwindled substantially since then. Yes, there are a few here and there who show great promise and a few who continue on, but nothing like we had then.
How about World XC on March 20-21 and the Women's Oly Trials on April 3...most of the top women are focusing on those events and are not interested in interrupting their training.
The World Cross falls at the same time every year. So that makes no sense. I am not sure that the 3k and the marathon are the same athletes.
Too many college coaches cut the cord on their athletes the second they graduate instead of keeping mentors around to work with the younger kids as volunteer assistants. There are some notables in the Northeast that refuse to coach any post collegiates and then wonder why they have Zero alumni support. (Its also a good way to get unemployed when Title IX and budget $$ time comes around too, ask SMU and the others)
Did I mention that Hansons-Brooks have started a womens program? Free Rent- Equipment- Coaching- Travel- Health Insurance- Physio- and Performance Bonuses. The purpose of the program is to change the depth situation.
this year, unlike in past years, USATF "technically" isn't allowing athletes to use mile/1500m times to qualify for the 3k. it also seems that some have chosen xc over indoor (flanagan, fleshman...) and there are those who are likely focused on the trials, or who never run indoors (dryer). and, yes, there are some who might normally race but are in the marathon (rhines, russell).