Lanni ran 2:31 and Can't run in the Olympics!

Why should a woman who can only run 2:25 be allowed in the Olympics too? It's not like it's challenging for a medal either, is it?

I think the ridiculous thing about it is that the Canadian A standard is identical to the Olympic A standard, for every single event...except the marathon.

No they are not actually!

Here are the two standards together, the CDN has a second page to it:

http://athleticsillustrated.com/editorial/2012-london-olympic-standards-track-and-field/

I would love to see the COC let Lanni and Krista (right behind Lanni in Rotterdam) run in the Games, but I think it's unlikely given the precedent set in 2004 when Nicole Stevenson was in a similar situation.

However, I can’t understand the reasoning behind the COC's top-twelve criteria for standard setting:

(i) It advocates the creation of an uneven playing field for athletes. The idea that athletes from different nations should have different qualification standards for making the Olympic Games is strange coming from a country that prides itself as being at the forefront of anti-doping initiatives - initiatives lauded as "leveling the playing field" for athletes;

(ii) It positions the COC as one more obstacle an athlete has to negotiate on his/her way to the Games. Given that there's no evidence of higher standards leading to improved performances (the COC actually lowered its standards for winter athletes so that Canada could send as many as possible its home Games in Vancouver, where Canada had its best-ever team performance), placing your organization in opposition to your own athletes can’t be beneficial;

(iii) It makes athletics – already a sport that could benefit from more fans – an even harder sell to people who can’t understand the tougher standards for Canadian athletes, the “repeat performance schedule,” the “Rising Star” criteria (only for some events). Canadian Olympic Trials aren’t nearly as fun to watch as the U.S. Trials, where you know that whoever’s top three and under the standard gets to go. The U.S. version is a very marketable event.

That’s all I’ve got time for. :)

Canada is more interested in curling than in running?

What is your point?

You made a statement and left a question mark. Is it a question?

Americans are more interested in Baseball. Brazilians are more interested in futbol as are most countries.

It looks like they amended the 400, 5k, 400H, Shot and Javelin in November 2011. Before that, they were the same. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/olympics/8453553/London-2012-Olympics-Athletics-qualification.html

Athleticsillustrated wrote:

No they are not actually!

Here are the two standards together, the CDN has a second page to it:

http://athleticsillustrated.com/editorial/2012-london-olympic-standards-track-and-field/

Your link is comparing the updated IAAF standards to an out-of-date version of the Canadian standards. The current version of the Canadian standards (available on the Athletics Canada website) was updated right after the IAAF standards were updated so that, once again, the A and B standards are identical to the IAAF A and B standards in every event except the marathon:

No, look closelyer; the marathon isn't the only event...

Interesting to note that AthletesCAN, the voice of Canadian national team athletes (although they're not the voice they used to be) came out against the COC's top-12 selection criteria when they were first announced. The link below is to AthletesCAN's position paper on the subject. There's some great information in this piece:

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/69714475/COC-Top-12-Criteria-Position-Paper---COC-Top-12-Criteria

That's a very interesting read, thanks.

Koneko wrote:

Why should a 2:31 woman be allowed in the Olympics? Should a guy who can only run 1:53 in the 800 compete in the Olympics (besides Semenya)?

I don't see the problem.

Are you a complete moron? Without weighing in on the issue at hand, why don't you go check the IAAF scoring tables and report back to us on the massive difference between those two performances. Idiot.

closelyer wrote:

No, look closelyer; the marathon isn't the only event...

Why don't you help us out there, champ. Which events are you referring to? As discussed above, AC set its own standards (and declined to have Rising Stars) in the marathon and 50K walk. In EVERY OTHER EVENT, the standards are identical.

(The only apparent exception is the men's 10,000 B standard, where the IAAF standard is 28:05 and AC still has the old standard of 28:10 listed. This is clearly a typo/error, because AC doesn't have the freedom to set a B standard slower than the IAAF one; they can only set it faster. If you run 28:06, it doesn't matter how much AC loves you, you still can't run in the Games.)

I'd just like to point out a few issues I have noticed with Canadian standards, and Canada's idea of high performance athletes. Lanni should without a doubt be allowed to run in the marathon at the Olympics, and I find it wrong that Canada would choose to have no representation at all in an event, as opposed to letting someone go who has a chance at gaining both international experience and further improving her time. Secondly, I believe that if Canada wants to have their athletes perform well and place at the Olympics, they need to provide better support and funding to up and coming athletes. This lack of funding causes many athletes to need to have a full time job (or at least part time) to assist in their travel costs to races, seminars, and development seminars. This leaves a limited time for them to fit in their training, and it makes no sense for Canada to expect their athletes to be on such a high level of performance if they must find another way to support themselves.

Take a look at how Athletics Canada responds to the problem:

http://www.lfpress.com/sports/columnists/morris_dalla_costa/2012/04/27/19689646.html

Lanni put in a solid winter at altitude in Kenya. She worked hard for her quantum leap at Rotterdam. She's running in Bolder Boulder this weekend. I do wish Canada would WANT to have her represent the country in the Olympics.

Van wrote:

Lanni put in a solid winter at altitude in Kenya. She worked hard for her quantum leap at Rotterdam. She's running in Bolder Boulder this weekend. I do wish Canada would WANT to have her represent the country in the Olympics.

It's ridiculous they won't send her to the Olympics. Come on Athletics Canada, she's obviously run under the IAAF standard, worked hard, and deserves her spot on the London start line. Considering the number of condoms that they give out at the games; she was clearly born to 'represent' at the Olympics. Don't let the other countries miss out on having Lannie at the London games. I can't believe that athletics canada would hold out like this - so freaking ridiculous and unfair!

I'd be upset that U.S. marathoners were so bad that they couldn't achieve a mediocre standard like 2:29:55.

It's ridiculous that so many elitists are on these boards. You known you'd hit that. Let Lannie represent, both in the UK and 'down under'...She met the iaaf standard, what more do you want - a twin?

Canada's not exactly doing anything to promote women's marathoning. Even if she's a 2:31 person, the experience will do Lanni well. And why not just have someone out there wearing the maple leaf, in London, of all places?