Peachtree: The USA Championships I Technically Never Ran

The road is huge. 6 lanes for traffic, plus turrn lanes. This was not a track 800. Space was not an issue to let these emerging elite and masters run. We're talking 10s, not 1000s. It worked fine for the woman's start 15 mins earlier.

Rich made a really bad call at a really big race. I want him to explain himself... It was not general confusion by a well meaning volunteer or two. It was his decision.

Rich needs to be seriously called out on this. Someone affected by this change should make a thread personally calling out Kenah for this terrible decision.

First they banned the Kenyans, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Kenyan.

Then they banned the Ethiopians, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not an Ethiopian.

Then they banned the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Niemoller Martin wrote:

First they banned the Kenyans, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Kenyan.

Then they banned the Ethiopians, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not an Ethiopian.

Then they banned the Jews, and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

This is up there with the Bumby DQ and the other numerous issues where USATF doesn't care if the rules get changed at the last minute or make no sense... as long as the winner is ok.

Rich made a bad call, for no clear reason. He has privately emailed a bunch of guys, but he has not given any specifics for the reasons behind "the confusion." And he has no addressed the issue to all of us who care about the out come of the race.

USATF should care if invited elites (even emerging elites) don't get the race start they signed up and were invited to compete in.

Look at Ty. 9th overall chip, nothing special gun. He missed a chance to get some great attention for his running. Thats on Rich.

Rich messed up - and the ATC and USATF at large deserve an explanation and a plan for the future to keep this from happening again.

I was standing there witnessing the argument and was a little surprised by Rich Kenah's actions.. maybe he's let the power and elitism going to his head? In all my years of running Peachtree (some years were USA Championships), there hasn't been a year where anyone got to start early...I thought that was a little bogus. Another great race put on by the ATC and USATF...shame on Rich.

In no other "professional" sport are weekend hackers allowed to compete with the pros. I agree in allowing the invited professionals a head start. Although, what they should have is difference races altogether: pro women, pro men, regular race.

Alan

Hey Joey, ^look what you did this is awesome. I didn't read all 4 pages but I did see a lot of support as well as Rich being called out. I also saw someone with a smart ass comment on time. To that person I would say look at place. How is a group that is finishing in the Top 50 of a race with tens of thousands a problem? Have the elites never run a cross country race? These guys all know their fitness and they aren't going to go out at 4:20 and be in the way. They aren't hobby joggers that jumped a corral and clog up the works.

Anyway Joey, I will buy you a beer and we can talk crap whenever I make it up there (hopefully this summer).

Runningart2004 wrote:

In no other "professional" sport are weekend hackers allowed to compete with the pros.

That's not what happened.

Those in the 2nd tier who placed in the top 20 were not counted.

This is dead on. I don't know if Kenah or those working for him screwed up but the point of this post is the heart of the matter. You can make the first wave cut off where ever you want but don't tell folks one thing and change it at the start line. THAT is the problem.

And still no comment from the Brojo's on this.

How bout you pretend it is nike or USTAF and look into this?

Don't want this to die. What happened this year was screwed up on all levels.

I wonder if Rich would say if they called him up. I know they're not the recipient of his email to the sub elites...but this is a US Championship. It needs to be dealt with publicly so it will not happen again.

110 wrote:

Don't want this to die. What happened this year was screwed up on all levels.

Rich has little experience at what he is doing and should be held accountable for his mistake. This is not small mistake its a major screw up.

If at all possible please make sure the AJC board is aware that Mr.Kenah should be put on suspension until a full audit can take place of why , who and how this took place.

USATF should pull all consideration of ATC being being able host another championship. Hopefully this will be remembered when ATC is bidding next time around their inability to host a championship race.

Has USA 10k Road Champs ever been held anywhere else besides Peachtree? What is the history on this race?

Perhaps the labeling scheme did not trickle up?

The fact that a number of numbered guys were included with the named guys in the championship scoring pool never got to RK, he sees numbers fraternizing with names and says- no We promised the championship guys a clear start--hey you number guy move back where you belong you're unnamed !

Management Mishap wrote:

Has USA 10k Road Champs ever been held anywhere else besides Peachtree? What is the history on this race?

At least since 2002 the men's 10K road championship been at Atlanta (although info on 2006 was lacking). Usually the women's is in Boston, but it's moved around some. In the 80s and early 90s Asbury Park was a site for some of the men's and women's 10K championships, and Freihofer's in Albany, when it was a 10K had been the women's championship site.

Yes, they should move these things around some and there should be a standard protocol, with no last minute shenanigans like this year.

This thread is never going to go any place. The faux outrage has just about dissipated.

pretty sure it was in Mobile for quite some years, though I could be mistaken. I seem to recall Bob Kennedy winning one year in Mobile

OCD archivist extraordinaire wrote:

Management Mishap wrote:

Has USA 10k Road Champs ever been held anywhere else besides Peachtree? What is the history on this race?

At least since 2002 the men's 10K road championship been at Atlanta (although info on 2006 was lacking). Usually the women's is in Boston, but it's moved around some. In the 80s and early 90s Asbury Park was a site for some of the men's and women's 10K championships, and Freihofer's in Albany, when it was a 10K had been the women's championship site.

Yes, they should move these things around some and there should be a standard protocol, with no last minute shenanigans like this year.

We had the10k championships at the Monument Ave 10k (Richmond, VA) in 2008.

nostradumbus wrote:

pretty sure it was in Mobile for quite some years, though I could be mistaken. I seem to recall Bob Kennedy winning one year in Mobile

OCD archivist extraordinaire wrote:

At least since 2002 the men's 10K road championship been at Atlanta (although info on 2006 was lacking). Usually the women's is in Boston, but it's moved around some. In the 80s and early 90s Asbury Park was a site for some of the men's and women's 10K championships, and Freihofer's in Albany, when it was a 10K had been the women's championship site.

Yes, they should move these things around some and there should be a standard protocol, with no last minute shenanigans like this year.