#FreeRiley - LetsRun.com nails it - perfect 1500 solution

Run both heats at the same time but in opposite directions one heat can use lanes 1-3 and the other heat lanes 4-6

sbeefyk1 wrote:

Here's an easier solution: Only take the 10 fastest runners within the qualifying period. One race for all the marbles.

I agree with you but it's not that simple as people pull out after the 3k. I think they should say, "We're going to take the top 10 or 12" who declare after the 3k. End of story.

Not it's going to be bizarre as if they fill up the 'fast' heat then the slow heat will have like 4 people.

I say, "Dont fill up the fast heat." Just put the people who can go to Worlds in there and have a good race for the slow heat.

Doesn't the "solution" actually involve forethought and a clear procedure prior to the meet? USATF likes to trumpet about the simplistic beauty about the "X past the post" method of choosing national teams, but if the process of determining who is allowed in the meet is shrouded in either secrecy or institutional banana peel slipping on a yearly basis, what's the point?

Next potentially cloudy selection process? World Relays in May, which doesn't even appear on the USATF page as a "Team USA" event yet.

OK,

You guys who are saying there should not be auto qualifying times either have never been athletes, or have forgotten what it's like to be near the bubble.

Auto qualifying times must to be kept.

Without an auto qualifying time, how does someone from across the country know whether or not they should buy a potentially expensive plane ticket, book and hotel, and plan to take off their stupid running store job in order to go to the meet?

How about the sheer agony of being in 12th position on the list, and being bumped because some 2rd tier Nike guy got in a better time trial than you on the last possible date?

In my opinion, the auto/provisional system is definitely the best. Auto guys can get their time trial in, and train hard for the championship, not worrying about getting bumped off the list, book their travel and a provisional time exists to fill out the field in weak years, and give champions of tomorrow something to shoot for. Worst case scenario is having too many fast guys. How is that a problem? It's a problem easily solved by running qualifying heats. Yes, there were going to be doublers in the 3000/1500, so then the schedule can be adjusted somewhat when the entries were settled.... on Febuary 9th.

You could have a time trial for each runner and could have judges who judge the running style of each runner much like figure skating. So points are achieved for speed and form. The. Runners with more points go to worlds.

* wrote:

Or

They could have every individual run a time trial and just go by time.

twitter dude wrote:

http://www.letsrun.com/news/2014/02/simple-common-sense-solution-potential-1500-controversy-2014-usa-indoor-track-field-championships/

They show how USATF's current decision makes no sense and how it can easily be corrected.

Nike just pushed USATF to DQ an event winner, overturning a decision agreed on by multiple committees of top officials of the meet.

Do you think that USATF will do anything other than what Nike demands, ever?

I hope that Rupp being out of the 1500 will give Masters a chance. I mean, there's an open spot now and he's the logical choice to fill it.