How many athletes can go from each event? I've heard that there is a cap to the total amount of athletes that can go? So if the mile and 3km gain a huge bunch of autos, does that eat into the amount of 5km runners who can go (providing there is only a few with auto)?
Yes, there's an overall total of "at-large" berths available and so if one event has a lot of autos, other events won't be able to get as many provisional qualifiers in.
I've never much liked the idea of these mixed qualifiers. Either make a solid time standard that you must hit to make the meet, or rely exclusively on a descending order list (my preference)
There are going to be 20+ autos in the 3k. Other events will suffer. I get that if anyone who is hoping to get in a with provo doesn't have much of an argument, if they wanted their spot guaranteed they should have run faster, but if I was hoping to make it in the 800 for example, I'd be a little peeved that the 3k auto was set at a time that was apparently not difficult enough, and as a result my event lost spots.
P.Whelan wrote:
I've never much liked the idea of these mixed qualifiers. Either make a solid time standard that you must hit to make the meet, or rely exclusively on a descending order list (my preference)
There are going to be 20+ autos in the 3k. Other events will suffer. I get that if anyone who is hoping to get in a with provo doesn't have much of an argument, if they wanted their spot guaranteed they should have run faster, but if I was hoping to make it in the 800 for example, I'd be a little peeved that the 3k auto was set at a time that was apparently not difficult enough, and as a result my event lost spots.
I have a different opinion on the matter. There is a lot that is gained by removing uncertainty (e.g., cheaper travel costs, needlessly chasing marks that may be irrelevant). I can see where people have differing opinions but I think that the weight of the matter favors an Auto system.
Also, I think it is good that they have the declaration dates, etc., so that dual qualifiers need to chose, even if it does not work well for the 3000 when that is a runners secondary event.