Open Lanes in Olympic Trials

because they like to run as many heats as the olympics will, but they don't take as many runners (i don't think). plus, they usually don't use the inside and outside lanes. and miles-clark didn't start because of how she did in the 800 so that was another open spot.

The timing system.

If they're using a video timing system they assign all the lanes in advance. They assign times to each lane, and match to the person by lane assignment.

When people drop out they leave the lane open. With all the different heats it's too error prone and time consuming to start shuffling people around.

Keith Stone wrote:

The timing system.

If they're using a video timing system they assign all the lanes in advance. They assign times to each lane, and match to the person by lane assignment.

When people drop out they leave the lane open. With all the different heats it's too error prone and time consuming to start shuffling people around.

I think you totally missed the point there. There were a ton of empty lanes, and that many people couldn't have scratched. I think the reason they have so many empty lanes is that they don't want to stick anyone in the crappy lanes, expecially lanes 1 and 8 (although being in lane 7 with no one in lane 8 doesn't exactly improve your situation). But if I were on the bubble I'd much rather be in lane 1 than not be running at all.

I could be mistaken, but didn't they fill all lanes in at least one of the men's 400--not sure whether quarter or semi-final?

Runners scratch like Michelle Collins.

No THG no run.

I just didn't think that many people would have scratched.

Didn't miss the point at all. I don't discount the possibility that they're leaving certain lanes open in the prelims, such as 1 or 8, but the point remains if they're using a video timing system they don't change the lane assignments. Since most meets of that nature using video as one of their timing systems, it's certainly a higher possibility than "crappy lanes".

Since assignments were likely done a week ago, or after some specific cutoff a few days before the meet that many scratches doesn't surprise me at all. If you're some B qualifier who's paying their own way you say you're coming in advance if you qualify, then bail at the last minute when you decide paying $1000 in hotels and flights to run a 400 that you've got little chance of advancing in isn't such a good idea after all.

Keith Stone wrote:

Didn't miss the point at all. I don't discount the possibility that they're leaving certain lanes open in the prelims, such as 1 or 8, but the point remains if they're using a video timing system they don't change the lane assignments. Since most meets of that nature using video as one of their timing systems, it's certainly a higher possibility than "crappy lanes".

Since assignments were likely done a week ago, or after some specific cutoff a few days before the meet that many scratches doesn't surprise me at all. If you're some B qualifier who's paying their own way you say you're coming in advance if you qualify, then bail at the last minute when you decide paying $1000 in hotels and flights to run a 400 that you've got little chance of advancing in isn't such a good idea after all.

Nice thoughts, but wrong.

The field sizes were set long ago, and filled appropriately as the events were "closed". The timing system is not a factor AT ALL.

That heat of the women's 400 had Collins and Miles-Clark, who had declared previously and (for whatever reason) were late scratches.

And yes, the idea behind open lanes in the prelims is to avoid sticking people in "crappy" lanes until the semis and final, where lanes are more fairly determined.

um, two people scratched. both in the same heat. all four heats had six entrants, meaning lanes 1 and 8 were closed. all others were filled.

and lane assignments are finalized the day of the event. they can be changed up until a few hours before.