Is having both 5k and 10k in big meets fair...

And the schools with sprint squads get the 100, 200, 400, 4x100, 4x400, 110HH to run. Think.

Well, then next they should get rid of the 4x100, 4x200 and 4x400.. Keep one, cuz the 4x800 is kinda long so we'll count that as a distance event. In which case, the sprints get way more relays. I think it's all fine the way it is. It's ridiculous to think that whooping up in the 5k and 10k is gonna make up for not scoring anything in sprints. How about Baylor who score like 4 guys in the 400. Then take the 4x400. Hardly seems fair. Maybe they should have a 4x10000 to equal it up a bit. :)

Yeah, it can't be fair that the sprints are such short races and sprinters can run 3 or 4 races in a meet, scoring many more points because it is much tougher to run a 1500, 5k, and 10k, then it is a 100, a couple 200's, and a 400 or any other variation of those 3 races.

I think it's a fallacy that it's easier for a sprinter to double/triple than it is for a distance runner. That's a belief theorized by distance geeks who think running a 200 all out takes as much effort for them as it does for Mo Greene. You could come back and come close to equalling your 200 pr several times during a workout, but for a sprinter, it's much different.

I couldn't agree more.

In fact, I don't think anyone, runner or field event personage, should be allowed to enter more than one event per fortnight.

Although it seems like doubling in the hammer and the 10k would be an interesting sort of challenge.

Hmmm, maybe we could have a multi-event event...mix in some running and field events, maybe have one for the men and one for the women (they are getting pretty good in some of the events where gender doesn't handicap them)...maybe eliminate the regular relays and have mixed team relay, like a male 3k or steeple lead off, give to a woman javelin flinger, who throws towards a male high jumper who hands off to a female essay writer...

If it is so much different for sprinters, why do they come back faster in finals, after running the trials. That?s two races in their one event. Granted this applies more to races under 200m, but the 110 High Hurdles has to require some effort comparable to the 200 if not more.

Gonzo, this is fairly simple...the sprinters making finals and running faster are often the ones that do not need to run 100% in the rounds, similar to people like Alistair Cragg in 1500 prelims @ SEC. Then in finals they can push the limits and go "all out", just like the top distance runners. Aren't Oly or WC finals *typically* faster than the prelims?

Yes it is fair the two distances offer other athletes who don't specialize in the 5 or 10 the chance to step up (1500m) or down (marathoners) to the 5000m and 10000m. The 5000m and 10000m differ in aerobic/anaerobic enough that all 5000m man can't step up to the 10000m at the same level they run the 5000m and vice versa. The 5000m and 10000m events simply add more opportunities for distance men to run at Major Championships like some versatile sprinters have more than one choice and it allows more athletes to participate in the meet (rather its NCAA, USATF, Worlds, or Olympics).

Vipam

It is fair, and good to have both events. More events allow more athletes to participate in the meet. I also think it's good to have relays like the 4x800 and even 4x1600, even if it's a non-scoring event.