I was just looking at the schedule for Division II nationals this year, and I noticed that they have scheduled prelims in the men's & women's 5000m. Are they really running prelims in that event? I know they didn't last year, and my husband and I are trying to make travel plans to watch our son run. Something like this could really alter our plans. We're confident that he'll make nationals, but advancing from prelims might be a different story. Anyone know anything about this?
The schedule will list all races including prelims. In a race like the 5k there is an established number of participants allowed in the final(I'm not sure what it is). If too many people get qualifying times then they'll have prelims. Being an old guy, I participated in the 5k in D-II nats in 1983 and they had prelims to eliminate 1 guy. So as I was entered in both the 5k and 10k, one day was the 5k prelim, next day was 10k final and the 3rd and last day was the 5k final. Having the 5k prelim won't be determined until a few weeks before the meet. Hope that clears things.
If they changed DII to be like DI then they will run a prelim. Last year they changed DI to having more athletes and then having a prelim it was okay and they took about 6 kids out in the prelim in the 5k.
they are having the prelims this year. last year, all year long, they had the schedule up and it did not include the prelims. i think they will take 12 for the finals and probably about 16-18 for the prelims. in d2, the top guys are established but after that, its a battle. im sure if your son is a shoe-in for nationals, he should have a very good shot at the finals. im calling there will be 16 guys 14:28 or faster this year.