USATF track championships

Amazing how information and qualifying standards aren't even known at this time just 6 months away. I browsed the USATF site and information for championships is scarce. We don't know how to qualify for championships (Youth Worlds for example), the procedure nothing. USATF is awful!!!

Nor Cal wrote:

Amazing how information and qualifying standards aren't even known at this time just 6 months away. I browsed the USATF site and information for championships is scarce. We don't know how to qualify for championships (Youth Worlds for example), the procedure nothing. USATF is awful!!!

I don't know why the standards are not posted yet for outdoors, but they were set at the annual meeting. You should be able to get them by emailing the event chair or overall chair of the appropriate development committee:

I don't follow the youth stuff very closely, but I would recommend going to the link I just posted and emailing people within the youth committee for answers.

The people who are holding things up are not trolling letsrun.com. I would like to think that if they got enough emails that it might motivate them to make sure things are posted sooner?

And yes, they SHOULD be posted MUCH sooner. But they haven't been, so you can sit here and bitch about it which will make nothing happen, or you can be proactive and contact the people who actually have the ability to make something happen.

Thanks for the info. I'll try contacting them.

That list of event chairs isn't remotely accurate and there are missing events throughout. For the 10k, Roy Griak is listed for heaven's sake!

Unbelievably unprofessional!

horticults wrote:

That list of event chairs isn't remotely accurate and there are missing events throughout. For the 10k, Roy Griak is listed for heaven's sake!

They did a bunch of restructuring in the past year or two. Not every single event has their own chair, they tried to consolidate quite a bit. But yeah... they really need to get that updated and remove the events that don't have single event chairs and do a better job of explaining who covers what.

Restructuring was just telling some chairs they weren't needed anymore.

One of the actual event chairs (and not listed anywhere) replied that if it isn't up on internet yet, it isn't finalized/approved. As development chairs, as much as he said he would like to have the info (especially regarding policy regarding "chasing the A standard) he wasn't surprised at all it wasn't up yet. When I pressed if the schedule and standards are all in John Chaplin's hands, he laughingly replied with "no comment".

I am sure the very best guys know the marks and policy for chasing and are planning accordingly. SOL for the fringe elite however!

sad probably wrote:

Restructuring was just telling some chairs they weren't needed anymore.

One of the actual event chairs (and not listed anywhere) replied that if it isn't up on internet yet, it isn't finalized/approved. As development chairs, as much as he said he would like to have the info (especially regarding policy regarding "chasing the A standard) he wasn't surprised at all it wasn't up yet. When I pressed if the schedule and standards are all in John Chaplin's hands, he laughingly replied with "no comment".

I am sure the very best guys know the marks and policy for chasing and are planning accordingly. SOL for the fringe elite however!

Was that actual event chair actually in Virginia? I didn't go to any of the men's meetings, but I know that women's standards were finalized and approved there. I know the men's side does tend to be less functional though.

They very best guys don't need to know the USATF standards, only the IAAF standards. I can't comment on the lack of info regarding chasing the [IAAF] A standard.

Another person to try contacting is your AAC rep. On the link above, go to "Athletes Advisory Committee" The list of AAC reps looks like it is up to date since the elections in Virginia, at least the vertical jumps are.

The protocol for our NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS should be up including standards and field sizes; sick of hearing everything is transparent. It isn't John Chaplin and Stephanie Hightower hold the "final-final" say in everything and that is ridiculous.

I should have to call anybody - especially when both lists you suggested are about 25% accurate at best!

ranke em wrote:

The protocol for our NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS should be up including standards and field sizes; sick of hearing everything is transparent. It isn't John Chaplin and Stephanie Hightower hold the "final-final" say in everything and that is ridiculous.

I should have to call anybody - especially when both lists you suggested are about 25% accurate at best!

You're right. It should all be posted and transparent and you shouldn't have to call/email anyone to figure it out.

Champions figure out how to get done what they need to get done despite the limitations of a flawed system. They figure out how to get the information they need, even if it means multiple emails and phone calls.

There's nothing wrong with being vocal about changes that need to be made, but if all you're doing is bitching here, you're wasting your time and energy.

They very best guys don't need to know the USATF standards, only the IAAF standards. I can't comment on the lack of info regarding chasing the [IAAF] A standard.

Sad but this is the attitude of the USATF. They only care about those who can meet the IAAF standard, not about promoting the sport and increasing viewership, attendance, etc.

Becca,

No offense, but to say I have dealt with the USATF on issues representing athletes at the Olympic Trials and USATF Championships would be an understatement.

Hands down the USATF is the worst run professional sports organization in the United States.

From the top down, it is almost a joke the way it is run, the lack of actual transparency in selection processes, the way they treat coaches and athletes, who ironically the USATF wouldn't even exist without.

If you do some homework you will see that the USATF hasn't progressed much since the "good 'ol boys club" AAU days. And that's the very reason our sport is so far behind. Back in the 60's and 70's track&field was in the spotlight ahead of the NBA and NHL and was even up there with the NFL and MLB. But we have no marketing, there is no loyalty from USATF to it's members and despite it being the highest participant sport in high school and a huge participant sport on the road race scene, people don't care about the USATF and why should they?

You tell me that there would be any other professional sport that wouldn't even know how the playoff system would work for that season or how a team qualifies? That's crazy, but that's what we have with the USATF.

It can be summed up like this, if you represent Nike then you make up your own rules, if you're anyone else then you better be dang good or no one cares.

Great sport!

The "very best" should be worried. If USATF doesn't allow chasing after USATF or only a short time, where will they run 'A' standards to be eligible to run Worlds?

Only the 10k reaches back to Stanford.

(1500) With Pre running a full mile, only the New York meet for 3:34!

(steeple) College meets only.

(5000) Mt Sac and maybe Payton Jordan (usually unrabbitted)

No standard chasing.

The way I see it Solinsky, Rupp, Nelson, Curtis have the 10,000m A's.

USATF should support some pre-Nationals fast racing opportunities - what better way to promote Nationals?

If it is true there is no standard chasing, then I predict we will not send a complete team in the distance area. Our guys will not be ready or will not have the "setting" to get the standard.

Maybe this is why Rupp is running indoor 5k?

I've heard that Solinsky and Teg will run 5K in Melbourne in March. Lagat can run sub-13:20 whenever he pleases.

Wheating, Webb, Lomong, Manzano should be able to run 3:33-35 at Adidas or Stanford.

USATF is a poorly run organization. What can we do to change it? Maybe write letters to as many people in it as possible? Not sure how much good that will actually do though, don't think the people running it are just going to fire themselves.

usatfstinks wrote:

USATF is a poorly run organization. What can we do to change it? Maybe write letters to as many people in it as possible? Not sure how much good that will actually do though, don't think the people running it are just going to fire themselves.

You can change it by getting involved. Start attending your Association's meetings. Attend the Annual Meeting. Learn how things work and figure out where you fit best so you can best be in a position to DO something.

polevaultpower wrote:

usatfstinks wrote:

USATF is a poorly run organization. What can we do to change it? Maybe write letters to as many people in it as possible? Not sure how much good that will actually do though, don't think the people running it are just going to fire themselves.

You can change it by getting involved. Start attending your Association's meetings. Attend the Annual Meeting. Learn how things work and figure out where you fit best so you can best be in a position to DO something.

I get bent over every year and pay my dues and the coaches registry fees so that I can enjoy the 'benefits' of USATF membership without having to sit at the convention or bang my head against the wall with the entrenched powers that be. Most of us have day jobs that preclude a lot of association involvement. Is it too much to ask for well payed professionals to do their jobs by planning events and informing their constituents?

I would get fired if I ran my program like the USATF.

The organization is poorly run and there's no excuse.