On our Monday morning call we were talking how at the recent NCAA meet there were no prominent DQs for running inside of your lane. Yet at World Indoors last week, DQs were going out left and right.
Besides the Birmingham track being different than others, this likely is because the NCAA and IAAF have different rules for DQs.
The NCAA rules says you have to take 2 consecutive steps outside of or on the lane to get DQd. So theoretically an athlete could step inside the lane, recover, take another step inside of the lane and be Ok. The IAAF rule says one step on the lane and you're out.
Will the IAAF go back and scrutinize the race to see if Norman stepped on the line even once? Even if he didn't step no it, Norman still ran with the luxury of knowing he could screw up for one step. That would let him be more aggressive.
We think of course the record should be ratified, but it got us thinking if the IAAF is willing to ratify it as a record is it time for the IAAF to change its rules for its own championships so we don't have so many unnecessary DQs.
Rules below:
NCAA rule 5.2.b) ARTICLE 2. The referee, after consulting with the appropriate officials, shall
disqualify a competitor who: In a race run on a curve, steps on or over the lane line to the left with two
consecutive steps of either both feet or a single foot;
IAAF Rule 163.3(b), which reads:
In all races (or any part of races) not run in lanes, an athlete running on a bend, on the outer half of the track as per Rule 163.5(b), or on any curved part of the diversion from the track for the steeplechase water jump, shall not step or run on or inside the kerb or line marking the applicable border (the inside of the track, the outer half of the track, or any curved part of the diversion from the track for the steeplechase water jump).