Say you are In a very competitive high level conference and you had to choose one athlete to score as many points as possible what do you choose? A thrower, jumper, sprinter, or distance runner?
Say you are In a very competitive high level conference and you had to choose one athlete to score as many points as possible what do you choose? A thrower, jumper, sprinter, or distance runner?
I'd pick a hurdler. Can score in the 110 and 300 hurdles, usually fast enough to contribute in any other sprint event or relay as well, and can try LJ in a pinch.
It isn't even close. Easy question.
A really athletic 100/200/400 guy who also long and triple jumps... It is fairly common for really talented sprinters to also excel in the lj and tj.
Somebody who can both hurdle and jump, because obviously they can sprint too. Gail Devers and Jackie Joyner each scored more than 50 points at whatever conference UCLA was in before the PAC-10 started sponsoring women's track.
Decathlete
obvious answer... wrote:
Decathlete
Wrong. Tons of effort for only 10 points. Plus, to find the best decathlete you just pick a hurdler that isn't a weakling.
Bring Back the 880 wrote:
obvious answer... wrote:Decathlete
Wrong. Tons of effort for only 10 points. Plus, to find the best decathlete you just pick a hurdler that isn't a weakling.
I think the idea is to enter the decathlete (or heptathlete) in a bunch is single events. That was my initial thought too, but I like the idea of a good hurdler.
Bring Back the 880 wrote:
obvious answer... wrote:Decathlete
Wrong. Tons of effort for only 10 points. Plus, to find the best decathlete you just pick a hurdler that isn't a weakling.
nah, the worlds best decathletes score upwards of 9000 points in single meets!
It depends on your definition of "very competitive high level conference", and on who your best athlete is.
The decathlete or hurdler mentioned above could win/place in 5 events in some conferences, but those conferences would probably not be called "very competitive".
I'm not too familiar with the throws, but I don't think there are very many throwers who are really great at more than 1 or 2 events.
There are a handful of sprinters who could win/place in the 100, 200, and 400. Similarly, there are a handful of distance runners who could win/place in the 800, 1600, and 3200 (HS) or 1500, 5000, and 10000 (college).
So in a general vacuum, there is no one correct answer. But if you are thinking of a specific program in a specific conference, you can do the math.
The phrase highly competitive conference actually drives this question. Painting with a broad brush a sprinter/LJer or a sprinter/HHer are the traditional choices, ecause most meets of consequence have a timetable that is designed to consider sprint doubling a real option.
dancin man wrote:
Bring Back the 880 wrote:Wrong. Tons of effort for only 10 points. Plus, to find the best decathlete you just pick a hurdler that isn't a weakling.
nah, the worlds best decathletes score upwards of 9000 points in single meets!
This^
Imsofast wrote:
dancin man wrote:nah, the worlds best decathletes score upwards of 9000 points in single meets!
This^
touché
Decathlon is done the week before the rest of the events so many decathletes come back the next weekend and compete in individual events. Ashton Eaton picked up a boatload of conference titles at PACs his senior year. Sad to use Oregon again, but Jenna Prandini and Jasmin Todd are two other good examples of how to pick up a lot of points.
Hurdles don't do both events that much. Kori Carter is the only person I can think of who could win both and still make it back for a 4x4.
(Small) Conference Championship Meet about 5 years ago.
Rival school had this stud athlete who came out just for the meet. He was a great jumper, and figured he'd do the relays too, but they had him throw. He took 1st in the LJ (county best for that year!), TJ, HJ, and third in the shot and discus. (5 event max in our conference). He got most of their points and they won the meet.
As others said, a competitive/deep conference really changes the dynamics. Not likely to have someone score in jumps and throws.
Decathlete
Guy on our team would regularly top the points
They tend to be more robust than sprinters as well and will do more events
In a crappy dual meet I won the 10k (morning event), 5k, 2nd in the steeple, 2nd in the 1500 and anchored the 4x8 to a first place.
Time wise all I needed was a 35, 16:30ish, 10:10ish, 4:08, and a 2:03. So YES I know and I said it was a CRAPPY dual meet!
I've seen several women throwers score 30+ team points at a conference meet. One scored 38.
Grant Holloway
Bring Back the 880 wrote:
Imsofast wrote:This^
touché
best answer ever^^^
Back n the early days of the SCIAC women's competition, Jenny Stary of Pomona scored in 11 events in their conference meet. SP, JT, both hurdles, HJ, LJ, 400, 800, both relays andoone other.