Why do we still have the heptathlon? Isn't this similar to the old "women can't handle long distance" theory that we now think is laughable/sexist? Am I missing something?
Why do we still have the heptathlon? Isn't this similar to the old "women can't handle long distance" theory that we now think is laughable/sexist? Am I missing something?
It would be too long/boring. A women's 1500 after 9 other events? It's laughable enough when we see the top NCAA studs running 4:43 in the decathlon 1500. Least exciting event to watch in my opinion. There are some truly awful performances, even in NCAA Finals.
Too long/boring? Ever heard of the 10k?
Down with the heptathlon? wrote:
Too long/boring? Ever heard of the 10k?
30 minutes of interesting racing is far preferable to 3 extra events. A single heat of even a 100 meter dash can take 5 or 6 minutes due to setting up blocks, etc.
Read an article a while back stating it may be the heptathletes themselves and their agents holding back the transfer to the decathlon. Believing that the decathlon may favor a different body style than the present stud hep ladies, the current crop of stars may not be petitioning too hard to "be equal".
Down with the heptathlon? wrote:
Why do we still have the heptathlon? Isn't this similar to the old "women can't handle long distance" theory that we now think is laughable/sexist? Am I missing something?
We still have the heptathlon because the Hep and Dec are very different, most elite Heptathletes would not be elite Decathletes once the event matures. They know this and they have fiercely resisted the change.
The IAAF is still actively talking about making the change from the Hep to the Dec. The Women's Decathlon has been an official event with records since around 2004, it's just rarely contested. Latest I heard was they were considering a change for 2024, but who knows what will come of it.
USATF has it as an event, but does not have it on the list of possible national championships. This is a rule change year, I will propose that we add it to the list of possible National Championship events. I will be lobbying the National Office to begin conducting a Women's Decathlon National Championship, to be conducted separately from the Track Championships.
We have women who WANT to do the decathlon. The IAAF is still considering the switch. USATF should be leaders in opportunities for women, in a way that does not take anything away from our existing heptathletes.
Women run the heptathlon outdoor because of gender discrimination and coaches who want to continue the discrimination. The heptathlon should be an indoor event, like it is for men.
polevaultpower wrote:
Down with the heptathlon? wrote:Why do we still have the heptathlon? Isn't this similar to the old "women can't handle long distance" theory that we now think is laughable/sexist? Am I missing something?
We still have the heptathlon because the Hep and Dec are very different, most elite Heptathletes would not be elite Decathletes once the event matures. They know this and they have fiercely resisted the change.
The IAAF is still actively talking about making the change from the Hep to the Dec. The Women's Decathlon has been an official event with records since around 2004, it's just rarely contested. Latest I heard was they were considering a change for 2024, but who knows what will come of it.
USATF has it as an event, but does not have it on the list of possible national championships. This is a rule change year, I will propose that we add it to the list of possible National Championship events. I will be lobbying the National Office to begin conducting a Women's Decathlon National Championship, to be conducted separately from the Track Championships.
We have women who WANT to do the decathlon. The IAAF is still considering the switch. USATF should be leaders in opportunities for women, in a way that does not take anything away from our existing heptathletes.
Down with the heptathlon? wrote:
Too long/boring? Ever heard of the 10k?
The women's 10k is long and very boring, what's your point?
4:43 1500 for men???? wrote:
30 minutes of BOREDOM.
^Fixed
no contradiction here wrote:
Down with the heptathlon? wrote:Too long/boring? Ever heard of the 10k?
The women's 10k is long and very boring, what's your point?
Too stupid to figure it out on your own.
polevaultpower wrote:
Down with the heptathlon? wrote:Why do we still have the heptathlon? Isn't this similar to the old "women can't handle long distance" theory that we now think is laughable/sexist? Am I missing something?
We still have the heptathlon because the Hep and Dec are very different, most elite Heptathletes would not be elite Decathletes once the event matures. They know this and they have fiercely resisted the change.
The IAAF is still actively talking about making the change from the Hep to the Dec. The Women's Decathlon has been an official event with records since around 2004, it's just rarely contested. Latest I heard was they were considering a change for 2024, but who knows what will come of it.
USATF has it as an event, but does not have it on the list of possible national championships. This is a rule change year, I will propose that we add it to the list of possible National Championship events. I will be lobbying the National Office to begin conducting a Women's Decathlon National Championship, to be conducted separately from the Track Championships.
We have women who WANT to do the decathlon. The IAAF is still considering the switch. USATF should be leaders in opportunities for women, in a way that does not take anything away from our existing heptathletes.
why not have both the hept and decathlon outdoors?
edward teach wrote:
polevaultpower wrote:We still have the heptathlon because the Hep and Dec are very different, most elite Heptathletes would not be elite Decathletes once the event matures. They know this and they have fiercely resisted the change.
The IAAF is still actively talking about making the change from the Hep to the Dec. The Women's Decathlon has been an official event with records since around 2004, it's just rarely contested. Latest I heard was they were considering a change for 2024, but who knows what will come of it.
USATF has it as an event, but does not have it on the list of possible national championships. This is a rule change year, I will propose that we add it to the list of possible National Championship events. I will be lobbying the National Office to begin conducting a Women's Decathlon National Championship, to be conducted separately from the Track Championships.
We have women who WANT to do the decathlon. The IAAF is still considering the switch. USATF should be leaders in opportunities for women, in a way that does not take anything away from our existing heptathletes.
why not have both the hept and decathlon outdoors?
for women that is
Adding events to the heptathlong will only make it as boring as the decathlong.
What they need to do is make it more exciting. For example they could turn it into an obstacle-course type event like a warrior dash.
They need to just do all the events in one day. None of this 2 hours between events garbage. Then the 1500m would really be a slogfest.
edward teach wrote:
edward teach wrote:why not have both the hept and decathlon outdoors?
for women that is
Yeah and why not have the 1500 AND the mile? And the 1600. When in doubt just add more events!
chocking on those whistles wrote:
Read an article a while back stating it may be the heptathletes themselves and their agents holding back the transfer to the decathlon. Believing that the decathlon may favor a different body style than the present stud hep ladies, the current crop of stars may not be petitioning too hard to "be equal".
When Carolina Kluft was no 1 in the world she said that if they started to do the decathlon instead she would retire immediately.
I was just talking to a former college decathlete who told me how it was grueling and that he had to retire because of shin splints.
edward teach wrote:
why not have both the hept and decathlon outdoors?
Well that is essentially what I am proposing at the USATF level. I personally have no desire to take anything away from the Heptathletes. We have the long jump AND the triple jump. We have the 100H AND the 400H. The Hep and Dec are at least as different as these events.
The World Championships and the Olympic Championships are spread out over many days. You could add a Women's Decathlon without removing the Hep.
But we know the IOC wants LESS events in Olympic track and field, not more. They've even mentioned removing the 200!
And the IAAF keeps trying to make track meets shorter.
So while I would be happy as a clam to keep up the tradition of the Women's Heptathlon while adding the Women's Decathlon, it doesn't seem likely things will go that way...
4:43 1500 for men???? wrote:
Down with the heptathlon? wrote:Too long/boring? Ever heard of the 10k?
30 minutes of interesting racing is far preferable to 3 extra events. A single heat of even a 100 meter dash can take 5 or 6 minutes due to setting up blocks, etc.
30 minutes of interesting racing would be preferable. What does that have to do with the 10K?
Choking on Those Whistles is correct.
If there was a switch to decathlon many heptathletes would not be able to make the transition. The addition of the pole vault, discus, and the 100m in addition to the greater distances due to the 400m (for the 200m) and the 1500m (for the 800m) would make the step up a step to far. It would cause a dramatic shift in body-types and results. It would also reduce the amount of competitions female multi-eventers would compete in.
Think about this, Aston Eaton has not even done 20 decathlons in his entire career.
I believe that IF they moved to the decathlon many of the shorter and slighter built heptathletes would have a tough time and eventually be phased out. The Austra Skujytes, Natalia Dobrinskas, Denise Lewises, and the Hyleas Fountains would battle it out.
I believe the discus in particular would impede/hamper the progress of a Ennis (unless she pulled a Bryan Clay - I would not put it past her). KJT and Morgan Lake I also think would have a tough time.
NB: Not picking on the ladies from the UK but throws are not what they are known for - they are sprinter/jumpers.
The decathlon does favour sprinter/jumpers (this is why we have a shift in body-type on the men's side; guys are getting leaner and taller) BUT you still need to be able to throw.
Athletes I believe who would move up in a big way would be the ladies from the Netherlands (Daphne, the Nadines, Ramona, and Anouk). They are "big" sprinter/jumpers who can throw. Their "size" is also a factor that can not be overlooked. All of the "Ladies from Orange" mentioned are at least 5'7.5" or taller.
In fact, I believe if they moved up to the decathlon, Daphne would be putting the hurt on everyone and she would have never left the multis.
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