Many people have complained that the selection process is screwed up considering guys with B standards can be nominated over guys who beat them at the trials. Some have asked even what is the purpose of the trials at all if this is past performances trump placing. You have to remember that in most of the previous years (and for every year for the sprint events) we have had more than four guys hitting the A standard going into the trials. The purpose of the trials is and always has been to choose the Olympic team. As American distance runners have gotten relatively slower and slower we are now facing the problem of having to select a team in a manner other than strictly based on placing. This isn't an issue in events like the 100m or 400m where we just pick the top three guys based on placing. The fact that this is an issue at all once again highlights how pathetic the state of American distance runnings is. Face it folks, we did this to ourselves so quit blaming USATF.