The nominees for best track athlete are Allyson Felix, Tyson Gay, Sanya Richards and Jeremy Wariner. Vote here.
Are you like me? Did you not even know this awards show still even existed? And what do they mean by "best track athlete"? Is it best American athlete? (Apparently so, but nominees for other sports include foreigners.) Is it best last year, this year, or some combination of the two? Why the heck is Allyson Felix a nominee instead of Deena Kastor?
I'm probably overanalyzing the issue. The show is probably intended to be a poorly-thought-out orgy of self-congratulation...just like every other awards show out there.
Friday, June 29, 2007
USATF membership
A thread on Let's Run asked "USATF Membership - What do you get for your $30?"
For an athlete it's absolutely necessary, but I'm not at that competitive level. I replied that on discounts alone I've gotten the $30 back and then some, which is a good enough reason for any fan to join. The discounts aren't why I'm a member, but rather the same sense of civic duty that gets me to the polls every election.
When I first joined up a few years ago, I expected to get a ballot for USATF elections in the mail at some point. My wife is a member of USA Triathlon and that's how they run their elections. Unions aren't the most democratic institutions around, but I get a ballot from mine every year too. Ditto for the Sierra Club and all kinds of other organizations. But nada from USATF.
Just the other day on the T&FN board, MJR shot off the following:
I looked through the USATF bylaws. From what I could glean, elections for national positions are held at the USATF convention. Those who vote are delegates selected by each association. There is no direct election by the rank-and-file membership; if you do not participate in association meetings, you have absolutely no say in the selection of our leaders (and you might not if you show up to the meetings anyway).
If there's anything that observers of US politics over the last few decades have learned, it's that a well-organized constituency can exert quite a bit of power in any organization. Thirty-five years ago, the thought that conservative Christians would someday throw their weight around in the Republican party was ludicrous; almost the same could be said of internet-based activists in the Democratic party in the early 90s. But in each case, it took a long time and a lot of organizing.
Could USATF be similarly transformed? Its bylaws appear to make change an even slower and more difficult process than in our notoriously-slow Congress. The fans, athletes and coaches who both know about the system and care are few and far between, usually busy with other projects, and many are not well-heeled enough to spend a week at a national convention on their own dime. So it might be impossible to do anything. But dammit, it's worth a try.
What do do and how to do it is beyond me. Others have experience with political bodies and organizing via the internet. It may be a pipedream. But if someone told you ten years ago that a wierd minimalist website with and its companion message board could begin to transform the US distance running community, you'd think he was nuts. But the Johnson brothers actually pulled it off.
For an athlete it's absolutely necessary, but I'm not at that competitive level. I replied that on discounts alone I've gotten the $30 back and then some, which is a good enough reason for any fan to join. The discounts aren't why I'm a member, but rather the same sense of civic duty that gets me to the polls every election.
When I first joined up a few years ago, I expected to get a ballot for USATF elections in the mail at some point. My wife is a member of USA Triathlon and that's how they run their elections. Unions aren't the most democratic institutions around, but I get a ballot from mine every year too. Ditto for the Sierra Club and all kinds of other organizations. But nada from USATF.
Just the other day on the T&FN board, MJR shot off the following:
It only looks to get worse in the coming years with the pending installation of Stephanie Hightower as the latest puppet at the helm when elections are held in 08. If she wins, expect the situation for the underloved events to worsen and a continued malaise to strangle the organization. She can barely be professional in meetings, using all sorts of foul language and racial insults to rule from the bully pulpit, how can we expect that she is the person to lead such an organization and represent it professionally?This is not the first time I've read such a criticism of Hightower and I have yet to find anyone who sticks up for her. Others in leadership positions, such as Brooks Johnson, have some pretty strong detractors too. So I thought, how in the heck do these people get elected? I mean, both as a rhetorical question and a real one?
I looked through the USATF bylaws. From what I could glean, elections for national positions are held at the USATF convention. Those who vote are delegates selected by each association. There is no direct election by the rank-and-file membership; if you do not participate in association meetings, you have absolutely no say in the selection of our leaders (and you might not if you show up to the meetings anyway).
If there's anything that observers of US politics over the last few decades have learned, it's that a well-organized constituency can exert quite a bit of power in any organization. Thirty-five years ago, the thought that conservative Christians would someday throw their weight around in the Republican party was ludicrous; almost the same could be said of internet-based activists in the Democratic party in the early 90s. But in each case, it took a long time and a lot of organizing.
Could USATF be similarly transformed? Its bylaws appear to make change an even slower and more difficult process than in our notoriously-slow Congress. The fans, athletes and coaches who both know about the system and care are few and far between, usually busy with other projects, and many are not well-heeled enough to spend a week at a national convention on their own dime. So it might be impossible to do anything. But dammit, it's worth a try.
What do do and how to do it is beyond me. Others have experience with political bodies and organizing via the internet. It may be a pipedream. But if someone told you ten years ago that a wierd minimalist website with and its companion message board could begin to transform the US distance running community, you'd think he was nuts. But the Johnson brothers actually pulled it off.
Print Magazines
I got two of 'em in the mail yesterday.
Sports Illustrated this week is their summer "Where Are They Now?" edition. Tracksters profiled include Al Oerter, Dave Wottle and Willie Gault, plus Texas HS sprint star Rynell Parson in the "Where Will They Be?" section. In the regular sports coverage, Tim Layden covers the USATF meet, and Austin Murphy's damning article on the Tour de France, "Are They All Dirty?" lets us know that T&F is coming out ahead in the long run for making a relatively honest attempt to face its problems head-on.
Runner's World actually has three articles worth reading this month, somewhat of a record for them (or at least in the last decade or so). There's a piece on the Hansons-Brooks project, an article on Ryan Hall alongside a half-marathon training plan, and a bit on the 1928 Bunion Derby. None of these are thrilling "I must read it" stuff, but it's a step up from the usual dreck.
Sports Illustrated this week is their summer "Where Are They Now?" edition. Tracksters profiled include Al Oerter, Dave Wottle and Willie Gault, plus Texas HS sprint star Rynell Parson in the "Where Will They Be?" section. In the regular sports coverage, Tim Layden covers the USATF meet, and Austin Murphy's damning article on the Tour de France, "Are They All Dirty?" lets us know that T&F is coming out ahead in the long run for making a relatively honest attempt to face its problems head-on.
Runner's World actually has three articles worth reading this month, somewhat of a record for them (or at least in the last decade or so). There's a piece on the Hansons-Brooks project, an article on Ryan Hall alongside a half-marathon training plan, and a bit on the 1928 Bunion Derby. None of these are thrilling "I must read it" stuff, but it's a step up from the usual dreck.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Sprint stats
Tyson Gay's winning 100m time at the USATF, 9.84, is the second-fastest ever into a headwind. The fastest, 9.83, was made by Maurice Greene in 2001 at the Edmonton World Championships. I saw both of these live and in person, which puts me in a relatively small circle of people--maybe a few hundred. This is pure blind luck, as Edmonton is the only meet I've traveled a significant distance to see.
A nifty online widget put together by Canadian physics prof Dr. Jonas Mureika allows us to take wind and altitude into account (and temperature, barometric pressure and relative humidity as well). For the men's 100 meters, here's his all-time adjusted list through the end of last year:
Adjusted (Official) Wind Athlete (Date) Venue
9.80 (9.79) 0.1 Maurice Greene (6/16/1999) Athínai
9.81 (9.80) 0.2 Maurice Greene (8/22/1999) Sevilla
9.83 (9.82) -0.2 Maurice Greene (5/8/2001) Edmonton
9.84 (9.86) -0.4 Ato Boldon (6/17/1998) Athínai
9.85 (9.84) 0.2 Bruny Surin (8/22/1999) Sevilla
9.85 (9.86) -0.2 Maurice Greene (1/9/2000) Berlin
9.85 (9.87) -0.3 Maurice Greene (9/23/2000) Sydney
9.85 (9.77) 1.5 Asafa Powell (6/11/2006) Gateshead
9.86 (9.77) 1.6 Asafa Powell (6/14/2005) Athínai
9.86 (9.85) -0.2 Tim Montgomery (5/8/2001) Edmonton
Note Asafa Powell's strong tailwinds in comparison to the rest. How does Gay's mark stand up? It adjusts to 9.82, third-best of all time.
In the 200 meters, Dr. Murieka's calcuations say the headwind had no net effect and counts Gay's time as 19.62. Walter Dix' stunning run at the NCAA east regional, on the other hand, was run with an aiding wind (+0.9) and, more importantly, came out of lane seven. So it corrects to 19.76, clearly inferior to Xavier Carter's great mark of last summer. Wallace Spearmon's best time, 19.65 last fall in Daegu (Korea), does not change in Murieka's calculations. The all-time adjusted 200m list:
Adjusted (Official) Wind/Lane Athlete (Date) Venue
19.37 (19.32) +0.4/3 Michael Johnson (8/1/96) Atlanta
19.62 (19.62) -0.3/6 Tyson Gay (6/24/07) Indianapolis
19.65 (19.65) 0.0/6 Wallace Spearmon (9/28/06) Daegu
19.70 (19.68) -0.1/6 Tyson Gay (9/10/06) Stuttgart
19.72 (20.01) -3.4/? Michael Johnson (8/27/91) Tokyo
19.73 (19.73) -0.2/? Mike Marsh (8/5/92) Barcelona
19.73 (19.63) 0.4/8 Xavier Carter (7/11/06) Lausanne
19.74 (19.68) 0.4/5 Frankie Fredericks (8/1/96) Atlanta
19.75 (19.80) -0.9/? Carl Lewis (8/8/84) Los Angeles
19.76 (19.69) 0.9/7 Walter Dix (5/26/07) Gainesville
19.78 (19.70) 0.4/5 Tyson Gay (7/11/06) Lausanne
All of these calculations leave out one important variable: the track itself. Some facilities are faster than others, but estimating an effect is near impossible. Regardless, the numbers confirm that the world's best sprinter at this point in time is not Asafa Powell. It's Tyson Gay.
A nifty online widget put together by Canadian physics prof Dr. Jonas Mureika allows us to take wind and altitude into account (and temperature, barometric pressure and relative humidity as well). For the men's 100 meters, here's his all-time adjusted list through the end of last year:
Adjusted (Official) Wind Athlete (Date) Venue
9.80 (9.79) 0.1 Maurice Greene (6/16/1999) Athínai
9.81 (9.80) 0.2 Maurice Greene (8/22/1999) Sevilla
9.83 (9.82) -0.2 Maurice Greene (5/8/2001) Edmonton
9.84 (9.86) -0.4 Ato Boldon (6/17/1998) Athínai
9.85 (9.84) 0.2 Bruny Surin (8/22/1999) Sevilla
9.85 (9.86) -0.2 Maurice Greene (1/9/2000) Berlin
9.85 (9.87) -0.3 Maurice Greene (9/23/2000) Sydney
9.85 (9.77) 1.5 Asafa Powell (6/11/2006) Gateshead
9.86 (9.77) 1.6 Asafa Powell (6/14/2005) Athínai
9.86 (9.85) -0.2 Tim Montgomery (5/8/2001) Edmonton
Note Asafa Powell's strong tailwinds in comparison to the rest. How does Gay's mark stand up? It adjusts to 9.82, third-best of all time.
In the 200 meters, Dr. Murieka's calcuations say the headwind had no net effect and counts Gay's time as 19.62. Walter Dix' stunning run at the NCAA east regional, on the other hand, was run with an aiding wind (+0.9) and, more importantly, came out of lane seven. So it corrects to 19.76, clearly inferior to Xavier Carter's great mark of last summer. Wallace Spearmon's best time, 19.65 last fall in Daegu (Korea), does not change in Murieka's calculations. The all-time adjusted 200m list:
Adjusted (Official) Wind/Lane Athlete (Date) Venue
19.37 (19.32) +0.4/3 Michael Johnson (8/1/96) Atlanta
19.62 (19.62) -0.3/6 Tyson Gay (6/24/07) Indianapolis
19.65 (19.65) 0.0/6 Wallace Spearmon (9/28/06) Daegu
19.70 (19.68) -0.1/6 Tyson Gay (9/10/06) Stuttgart
19.72 (20.01) -3.4/? Michael Johnson (8/27/91) Tokyo
19.73 (19.73) -0.2/? Mike Marsh (8/5/92) Barcelona
19.73 (19.63) 0.4/8 Xavier Carter (7/11/06) Lausanne
19.74 (19.68) 0.4/5 Frankie Fredericks (8/1/96) Atlanta
19.75 (19.80) -0.9/? Carl Lewis (8/8/84) Los Angeles
19.76 (19.69) 0.9/7 Walter Dix (5/26/07) Gainesville
19.78 (19.70) 0.4/5 Tyson Gay (7/11/06) Lausanne
All of these calculations leave out one important variable: the track itself. Some facilities are faster than others, but estimating an effect is near impossible. Regardless, the numbers confirm that the world's best sprinter at this point in time is not Asafa Powell. It's Tyson Gay.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Venue selection
I have been informed that next year's USATF Junior meet will be held in Columbus, Ohio on June 20-22. No official announcement has yet been made; this information came from a USATF official in what I can only call a "leak". I guess I now belong with the Judith Millers of the world.
After last year's USATF meet there was a lot of griping about the site and still more this year. Much of it was pointed towards the unpredictability of weather in the midwest. I think we just got bad luck in regards to rain over these two years--somehow they manage to get an entire season of baseball played every year in Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis. Besides, the heat, humidity and rain didn't stop the athletes from breaking several meet records (and one quasi-world record).
But some of the tone of the discussion was "How dare USATF move the meet away from the west coast?" Not only is that annoyingly snotty, but tremendously shortsighted as well. Track's fan base is undoubtedly strongest in the west. That base must be expanded. TV and other media is the most effective way to do the job, but moving the meet around the country helps as well. Thirty years ago NASCAR was a purely southern regional phenomenon, but they managed to figure out a way to go national.
After last year's USATF meet there was a lot of griping about the site and still more this year. Much of it was pointed towards the unpredictability of weather in the midwest. I think we just got bad luck in regards to rain over these two years--somehow they manage to get an entire season of baseball played every year in Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis. Besides, the heat, humidity and rain didn't stop the athletes from breaking several meet records (and one quasi-world record).
But some of the tone of the discussion was "How dare USATF move the meet away from the west coast?" Not only is that annoyingly snotty, but tremendously shortsighted as well. Track's fan base is undoubtedly strongest in the west. That base must be expanded. TV and other media is the most effective way to do the job, but moving the meet around the country helps as well. Thirty years ago NASCAR was a purely southern regional phenomenon, but they managed to figure out a way to go national.
Monday, June 25, 2007
USATF Championships
Other sites will give a better news account (AP - IAAF - Tim Layden - David Woods) or discussion of the meet. I'm simply going to give my fan's impression of the whole shebang.Best meet management move:
The sales tent and autograph area were moved into the main stadium. Last year, they were located well away from the action, and many people didn't even know they were there.Thing I missed and wish I hadn't: Breaux Greer's new javelin AR.
This was on Thursday, and I couldn't get to Indy until Friday.
Biggest breakthrough: Tyson Gay.
He flat-out stomped the field in the sprints. We already knew he was good, but this was tremendous.Biggest upset: Women's 400.
Best stretch drive: Men's 1500.
I sense a rivalry developing, and I like it.Most overhyped race: Men's 200.
This was supposed to be a true Clash of the Titans. Instead, Walter Dix scratched, Xavier Carter got hurt in the semis, and the race between the remaining two superstars wasn't close at all. A great performance to be sure, but not a great competition per se.
Most underhyped race: Men's 110 Hurdles.
The final featured all eight of the nation's best hurdlers and six of the world's top ten. But no one was talking it up and you can't find the video on YouTube.Best showman: Reese Hoffa.
Best junior: Emily Pendleton
I'm biased--she lives about 15 miles away from me. Chanelle Price, seventh in the open 800, is the logical choice. But my choice isn't a bad one. Pendleton is just barely 18 years old and currently ranked 13th in America in an event dominated by older athletes; only four collegians even qualified for the senior nationals and none made the final rounds. Nor do athletes peak early in the disc; national champ and AR holder Suzy Powell also holds the high school record Pendleton is chasing.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Reese Hoffa Biofile
Filed under "things I did not know until I Googled them" is the Scoop Malinowski Biofile feature in T&FN. Malinowski is a real guy and he's been doing this schtick for some 15 years for his own site, for CBS and for dozens of magazines, interviewing all kinds of celebrities from Dale Earnhart Jr to Wynton Marsalis.
Anyway, at best I usually skim over it. Like SI's Players section, it's a puff piece that doesn't tend to interest me that much. I'm not huge on hero worship. I got over that in the early 90s when I met some big stars; I figured out that some are cool, some are dicks, and all of them are just ordinary people. Just because they can run like the wind or throw heavy things doesn't make them any better or worse than the rest of us, only more interesting to watch.
I do have to admit I have a few favorites, though. One of them is Reese Hoffa. At last year's USATF meet I got to meet him and he came off as a really nice and funny guy. So I appreciated the biofile and saw we had a lot in common. But someone dropped the ball--the Blue Ridge Mountains are in Virginia, not Tennessee.
This is the last update until I return from Indianapolis.
Anyway, at best I usually skim over it. Like SI's Players section, it's a puff piece that doesn't tend to interest me that much. I'm not huge on hero worship. I got over that in the early 90s when I met some big stars; I figured out that some are cool, some are dicks, and all of them are just ordinary people. Just because they can run like the wind or throw heavy things doesn't make them any better or worse than the rest of us, only more interesting to watch.
I do have to admit I have a few favorites, though. One of them is Reese Hoffa. At last year's USATF meet I got to meet him and he came off as a really nice and funny guy. So I appreciated the biofile and saw we had a lot in common. But someone dropped the ball--the Blue Ridge Mountains are in Virginia, not Tennessee.
This is the last update until I return from Indianapolis.
Sports Illustrated USATF preview
Tim Layden:
It is a fact of life in modern track and field that major events are defined as much by the athletes who are absent as by those who are present. This is the unfortunate reality that attends a sport where euphoria is attended by suspicion and fans are advised to embrace a primal and terrific game with great caution, lest they be burned for loving too much.He really does get it. Read on.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
TV Schedule update
Wednesday, June 20
Fox College Sports Pacific, 2:00-5:00 AM
California High School Championships
(repeats at 6:00 AM, 6/21 at 9:30 PM, 6/22 at 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM, 6/23 at 11:00 AM and 9:30 PM, 6/24 at 3:00 AM, 6/25 at 6:00 AM and midnight, 6/26 at 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM, 7/4 at 3:00 AM)
Friday, June 22
ESPN2, 8:00-9:00 PM
USATF Championships
Saturday, June 23
Fox College Sports Pacific, 6:00-9:00 AM
California Southern Section Masters Meet
(repeats 7/7 at 1:30 AM and 12:30 PM)
NBC, 2:00-3:00 PM
ESPN2, 7:00-8:00 PM
USATF Championships
Sunday, June 24
NBC, 1:00-3:00 PM
USATF Championships
Wednesday, June 27
Fox College Sports Pacific, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
UCLA at USC
(repeats 6/27 at 7:00 PM, 6/28 at 3:00 AM)
Wednesday, July 4
NBC, 1:00 PM
Peachtree Road Race
Saturday, July 7
CBC, 2:00-4:00 PM
Paris Golden League
Sunday, July 8
Versus, 6:00-7:00 PM
Paris Golden League
Monday, July 9
Fox College Sports Atlantic, 2:30-4:30 AM
SEC Indoor Championships
Saturday, July 14
CBC, 4:30-6:00 PM
Rome Golden League
Sunday, July 15
Versus, 2:30-3:30 PM
Rome Golden League
Saturday July 21
CBC, 3:00 PM
Canadian Championships
Sunday, August 5
NBC, 2:30-4:30 PM
2006 Ironman Triathlon World Championship
Saturday, August 25
CBC, 2:00 PM
World Championships
Sunday, August 26
CBC, 3:00 PM
World Championships
Tuesday, August 28
ESPN, 7:00 PM
Track Classic
Saturday, September 1
CBC, 2:00 PM
World Championships
Sunday, September 2
CBC, 3:00 PM
World Championships
Saturday September 8
CBC, 1:30 PM
Zurich Golden League
Saturday Sept 15
CBC, 2:30 PM
Brussels Golden League
December 1
NBC, 4:30-6:00 PM
Ironman Triathlon World Championships
Fox College Sports Pacific, 2:00-5:00 AM
California High School Championships
(repeats at 6:00 AM, 6/21 at 9:30 PM, 6/22 at 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM, 6/23 at 11:00 AM and 9:30 PM, 6/24 at 3:00 AM, 6/25 at 6:00 AM and midnight, 6/26 at 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM, 7/4 at 3:00 AM)
Friday, June 22
ESPN2, 8:00-9:00 PM
USATF Championships
Saturday, June 23
Fox College Sports Pacific, 6:00-9:00 AM
California Southern Section Masters Meet
(repeats 7/7 at 1:30 AM and 12:30 PM)
NBC, 2:00-3:00 PM
ESPN2, 7:00-8:00 PM
USATF Championships
Sunday, June 24
NBC, 1:00-3:00 PM
USATF Championships
Wednesday, June 27
Fox College Sports Pacific, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
UCLA at USC
(repeats 6/27 at 7:00 PM, 6/28 at 3:00 AM)
Wednesday, July 4
NBC, 1:00 PM
Peachtree Road Race
Saturday, July 7
CBC, 2:00-4:00 PM
Paris Golden League
Sunday, July 8
Versus, 6:00-7:00 PM
Paris Golden League
Monday, July 9
Fox College Sports Atlantic, 2:30-4:30 AM
SEC Indoor Championships
Saturday, July 14
CBC, 4:30-6:00 PM
Rome Golden League
Sunday, July 15
Versus, 2:30-3:30 PM
Rome Golden League
Saturday July 21
CBC, 3:00 PM
Canadian Championships
Sunday, August 5
NBC, 2:30-4:30 PM
2006 Ironman Triathlon World Championship
Saturday, August 25
CBC, 2:00 PM
World Championships
Sunday, August 26
CBC, 3:00 PM
World Championships
Tuesday, August 28
ESPN, 7:00 PM
Track Classic
Saturday, September 1
CBC, 2:00 PM
World Championships
Sunday, September 2
CBC, 3:00 PM
World Championships
Saturday September 8
CBC, 1:30 PM
Zurich Golden League
Saturday Sept 15
CBC, 2:30 PM
Brussels Golden League
December 1
NBC, 4:30-6:00 PM
Ironman Triathlon World Championships
World Record Videos
Previously I suggested that some world records are less than authentic and should be disregarded. This gives us an opportunity to look at the "new" WRs.
MEN
100 meters
200 meters
400 meters
800 meters
1500 meters
Mile
Steeplechase -- video not available
5000 meters -- video not available
10,000 meters
Marathon -- video not available
110m Hurdles
400m Hurdles
High Jump
Pole Vault -- video not available
Long Jump
Triple Jump
Shot Put -- video not available
Discus Throw -- video not available
Hammer Throw -- video not available
Javelin Throw -- click to watch
Decathlon -- video not avaiable
WOMEN
100 meters
200 meters -- video not available
400 meters
800 meters -- video not available
1500 meters -- video not available
Steeplechase -- video not available
5000 meters
10,000 meters -- video not available
Marathon -- video not available
100m Hurdles -- video not available
400m Hurdles -- video not available
High Jump
Pole Vault
Long Jump -- video not available
Triple Jump
Shot Put -- video not available
Discus throw -- video not available
Hammer Throw -- video not available
Javelin Throw
Heptathlon -- video not available
MEN
100 meters
200 meters
400 meters
800 meters
1500 meters
Mile
Steeplechase -- video not available
5000 meters -- video not available
10,000 meters
Marathon -- video not available
110m Hurdles
400m Hurdles
High Jump
Pole Vault -- video not available
Long Jump
Triple Jump
Shot Put -- video not available
Discus Throw -- video not available
Hammer Throw -- video not available
Javelin Throw -- click to watch
Decathlon -- video not avaiable
WOMEN
100 meters
200 meters -- video not available
400 meters
800 meters -- video not available
1500 meters -- video not available
Steeplechase -- video not available
5000 meters
10,000 meters -- video not available
Marathon -- video not available
100m Hurdles -- video not available
400m Hurdles -- video not available
High Jump
Pole Vault
Long Jump -- video not available
Triple Jump
Shot Put -- video not available
Discus throw -- video not available
Hammer Throw -- video not available
Javelin Throw
Heptathlon -- video not available
Monday, June 18, 2007
Jones Skipping Season
Forgive me if this is old news:
Marion Jones, conspicuously absent from the track scene since her February marriage, apparently will not compete in the 2007 season.The article needs one clarification:
"I'm almost sure she isn't,'' coach Steve Riddick said in a brief telephone interview with The Associated Press on Friday. He said if she was going to run, he would have known by now.
Her [2007 season] was highlighted by her 100 triumph to a cheering crowd in Indianapolis.One crowd, less three fans.
Gender Differences, World Records
In the wake of Meseret Defar's new 5k world record, the Finish Line Pundit took a look at gender differences in world records. As with most things, the issue is far more complex than it appears.
First off, we have to define what a world record is. You might think I'm loony for even bringing this up, but keep with me and you'll understand. At the forming of the IAAF in 1912, its most important job was ratifying world records and sorting out what marks were legit and what weren't.
Early on, there are instances where their standards may have been too restrictive. These days, the accusations are that they aren't restrictive enough. For example, the IAAF now keeps records for road racing, but its standards for approval have been heavily criticized for their laxity. Many believe that FloJo's famous 100-meter world record never should have been ratified due to strong doubts about wind conditions. There are many more examples, but the basic point is the IAAF has strong financial incentives to keep the world records coming. So if some official IAAF records should be rejected, which ones and why?
The IAAF itself rewrites the record book when it's obvious that it should be done. For example, the men's javelin record used to be 104.80 meters by Uwe Hohn. This was taken off the books when the javelin specifications were rewritten in the late 80s, because the new javelin couldn't be thrown as far. There were new records because the rules of competition had changed. This has actually occurred in all events, with the results more obvious in some than others.
In the early 90s, the IAAF began year-round random out-of-competition drug testing. At the same time, the east European Communist regimes fell and their state-sponsored doping programs went with them. The combined effect was that if became much more difficult to use anabolic steroids and get away with it. In essence, today's athletes are competing under different rules andthe results show it. In the men's throws and just about all women's events, the ones where steroids have the greatest effect, have had next to no world records set since 1992. The new records are all in events that were still fairly new in the 80s (women's 5k, marathon, 400H, PV, TJ, and the walks) or whose rules were re-written (men's & women's javelin).
Actually, there are a few glaring exceptions: three women's distance records that were all set in an out-of-the-way Chinese domestic competition and with no international observers present. This, combined with the exceptionality of the marks, makes them highly suspicious and are generally treated as such.
There are some other marks the IAAF probably should not have ratified but did. The tracks used for the 1991 World Championships and 1996 Olympic Games were exceptionally hard and (at least according to some) did not meet IAAF specs for "track compliance". The sprint/hurdle marks made on them were very fast.
If we throw all these out (along with marks made by those who have taken a "doping vacation"), here are the new world records that result:
MEN
200 meters: 19.63, Xavier Carter, 2007
Shot Put: 22.54, Christian Cantwell, 2004
Discus Throw: 73.88, Virgilius Alekna, 2000
Hammer Throw: 86.73, Ivan Tsikhan, 2003
WOMEN
100 meters: 10.70, Marion Jones, 1999 (but I feel better about 10.73, Christine Arron, 1998)
200 meters: 21.72, Gwen Torrance, 1992
400 meters: 48.70, Sanya Richards, 2006
800 meters: 1:54.82, Ana Quirot, 1997
1500 meters: 3:55.30, Hassiba Boulmerka, 1992
3000 meters: 8:21.42, Gabriella Szabo, 2002
10,000 meters: 30:01.09, Paula Radcliffe, 2002
100m Hurdles: 12.33, Gail Devers, 2000
High Jump: 2.08, Kajsa Bergqvist, 2006
Long Jump: 7.49, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1994
Shot Put: 21.22, Astrid Kumbernuss, 1995
Discus Throw: 71.68, Yanling Xiao, 1992
Heptathlon: 7044, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1992
It would make sense to compare the above marks with that of the opposite gender, because they were set under similar conditions. Anything else is ignoring the painful but obvious truth.
First off, we have to define what a world record is. You might think I'm loony for even bringing this up, but keep with me and you'll understand. At the forming of the IAAF in 1912, its most important job was ratifying world records and sorting out what marks were legit and what weren't.
Early on, there are instances where their standards may have been too restrictive. These days, the accusations are that they aren't restrictive enough. For example, the IAAF now keeps records for road racing, but its standards for approval have been heavily criticized for their laxity. Many believe that FloJo's famous 100-meter world record never should have been ratified due to strong doubts about wind conditions. There are many more examples, but the basic point is the IAAF has strong financial incentives to keep the world records coming. So if some official IAAF records should be rejected, which ones and why?
The IAAF itself rewrites the record book when it's obvious that it should be done. For example, the men's javelin record used to be 104.80 meters by Uwe Hohn. This was taken off the books when the javelin specifications were rewritten in the late 80s, because the new javelin couldn't be thrown as far. There were new records because the rules of competition had changed. This has actually occurred in all events, with the results more obvious in some than others.
In the early 90s, the IAAF began year-round random out-of-competition drug testing. At the same time, the east European Communist regimes fell and their state-sponsored doping programs went with them. The combined effect was that if became much more difficult to use anabolic steroids and get away with it. In essence, today's athletes are competing under different rules andthe results show it. In the men's throws and just about all women's events, the ones where steroids have the greatest effect, have had next to no world records set since 1992. The new records are all in events that were still fairly new in the 80s (women's 5k, marathon, 400H, PV, TJ, and the walks) or whose rules were re-written (men's & women's javelin).
Actually, there are a few glaring exceptions: three women's distance records that were all set in an out-of-the-way Chinese domestic competition and with no international observers present. This, combined with the exceptionality of the marks, makes them highly suspicious and are generally treated as such.
There are some other marks the IAAF probably should not have ratified but did. The tracks used for the 1991 World Championships and 1996 Olympic Games were exceptionally hard and (at least according to some) did not meet IAAF specs for "track compliance". The sprint/hurdle marks made on them were very fast.
If we throw all these out (along with marks made by those who have taken a "doping vacation"), here are the new world records that result:
MEN
200 meters: 19.63, Xavier Carter, 2007
Shot Put: 22.54, Christian Cantwell, 2004
Discus Throw: 73.88, Virgilius Alekna, 2000
Hammer Throw: 86.73, Ivan Tsikhan, 2003
WOMEN
100 meters: 10.70, Marion Jones, 1999 (but I feel better about 10.73, Christine Arron, 1998)
200 meters: 21.72, Gwen Torrance, 1992
400 meters: 48.70, Sanya Richards, 2006
800 meters: 1:54.82, Ana Quirot, 1997
1500 meters: 3:55.30, Hassiba Boulmerka, 1992
3000 meters: 8:21.42, Gabriella Szabo, 2002
10,000 meters: 30:01.09, Paula Radcliffe, 2002
100m Hurdles: 12.33, Gail Devers, 2000
High Jump: 2.08, Kajsa Bergqvist, 2006
Long Jump: 7.49, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1994
Shot Put: 21.22, Astrid Kumbernuss, 1995
Discus Throw: 71.68, Yanling Xiao, 1992
Heptathlon: 7044, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, 1992
It would make sense to compare the above marks with that of the opposite gender, because they were set under similar conditions. Anything else is ignoring the painful but obvious truth.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Another Blog
It's just come to my attention that there's another track & field blog out there: The Finish Line Pundit. He's been online for a bit over a month now. Check it out.
Priorities
Today's Toledo Blade reports on a brewing scandal at the University of Toledo:
UT is not the only institution that does this kind of stuff; an Ohio State administrator was quoted as saying it's part of the cost of doing business. However, that attitude isn't universal, even at the biggest schools:
And that's why I'm writing about this story. In 2002 Toledo cut several sports, most prominently the men's indoor and outdoor track programs. Just two days ago, University President Lloyd Jacobs ordered a "massive restructuring" of the athletic department due at least in part to this problem (but more likely because of issues with the team doctor and an FBI probe of a point-shaving scheme). This leads us to two questions.
1) How much money did the athletic department waste on travel giveaways?
Considering the relatively meager savings you get from canceling a men's track program, maybe the amount required to keep it running. Maybe not. But Michigan showed that if you need to control costs, you can find the savings and maintain competitiveness without killing sports.
But more importantly,
2) What does it take to get the president's office involved in intercollegiate athletics?
Johnny Law. Apparently cutting four sports is not percieved as a sign of an athletic department horrendously out of control, but it should be. It's a sign that a program that was able to operate within its means for decades can longer control its finances.
Remember back in 2003 when Vanderbilt closed down its athletic department and put the sports programs under the department of student life? Sports Illustrated reports that the move has given Vanderbilt an unexpected boost; overall, their programs are the better now than ever before.
SI leaves out some important information. Why did president Gordon Gee do such a thing? We can only speculate but I've got a pretty good idea. It should be remembered where Gee was before coming to Vanderbilt--Ohio State, which at the time was one of the most out-of-control athletic departments in the nation. At Vanderbilt, the student newspaper mocked Gee's decision with a satirical report of his death, but had he tried this trick at Ohio State his life probably really would have been in danger.
As long as Ohio State, and not Vanderbilt, is the model for Division I-A schools to emulate, programs will still be cut and they'll still tell us it's Title IX. Don't believe it for a second. It's crap like this that caused their death.
When the University of Toledo men’s basketball team traveled to the Virgin Islands for an early season tournament in November, the coaches’ wives, the athletic director’s family, and a UT athletic donor accompanied the team on its chartered flight.None of this is illegal, and university regulations are unclear on the matter, but the president is not happy (and neither should the students, given they massively fund the athletic program through general fees). This kind of shenanigans also went on with the football program.
So did an associate athletic director’s girlfriend, a team psychologist’s girlfriend, and a team spokesman’s wife.
The two girlfriends, the spokesman’s wife, and the donor were ultimately billed for the trip and paid the UT Foundation — not the university itself — from $1,051 to $3,046 for air travel and hotel costs.
The coaches’ and athletic director’s families flew and stayed at the hotel for free.
UT is not the only institution that does this kind of stuff; an Ohio State administrator was quoted as saying it's part of the cost of doing business. However, that attitude isn't universal, even at the biggest schools:
But at the University of Michigan, donors and coaches’ wives seldom travel with the football team during the regular season.According to an friend who works as an academic advisor at UM, it took a major overhaul of the athletic department a few years back to get its finances in the black. Note that they did not cut any sports while accomplishing this feat.
Bruce Madej, spokesman for the University of Michigan athletic department, said Wolverines coach Lloyd Carr’s wife, Laurie, had only traveled with the team to two regular-season road games in the last 10 years.
Mr. Madej also said only a few donors have flown with the team during that time.
And that's why I'm writing about this story. In 2002 Toledo cut several sports, most prominently the men's indoor and outdoor track programs. Just two days ago, University President Lloyd Jacobs ordered a "massive restructuring" of the athletic department due at least in part to this problem (but more likely because of issues with the team doctor and an FBI probe of a point-shaving scheme). This leads us to two questions.
1) How much money did the athletic department waste on travel giveaways?
Considering the relatively meager savings you get from canceling a men's track program, maybe the amount required to keep it running. Maybe not. But Michigan showed that if you need to control costs, you can find the savings and maintain competitiveness without killing sports.
But more importantly,
2) What does it take to get the president's office involved in intercollegiate athletics?
Johnny Law. Apparently cutting four sports is not percieved as a sign of an athletic department horrendously out of control, but it should be. It's a sign that a program that was able to operate within its means for decades can longer control its finances.
Remember back in 2003 when Vanderbilt closed down its athletic department and put the sports programs under the department of student life? Sports Illustrated reports that the move has given Vanderbilt an unexpected boost; overall, their programs are the better now than ever before.
SI leaves out some important information. Why did president Gordon Gee do such a thing? We can only speculate but I've got a pretty good idea. It should be remembered where Gee was before coming to Vanderbilt--Ohio State, which at the time was one of the most out-of-control athletic departments in the nation. At Vanderbilt, the student newspaper mocked Gee's decision with a satirical report of his death, but had he tried this trick at Ohio State his life probably really would have been in danger.
As long as Ohio State, and not Vanderbilt, is the model for Division I-A schools to emulate, programs will still be cut and they'll still tell us it's Title IX. Don't believe it for a second. It's crap like this that caused their death.
New Personal Record
Yesterday I did my long run for the week, a 3-hour jaunt. I farted around in the morning and didn't get started until 9:00, at which time the bank sign downtown already said it was 84 degrees. I also relied on four stops water fountains for all my hydration.
I lost 13 pounds of fluid on that run. Yikes! By last night I had replaced it again, but wow...
I lost 13 pounds of fluid on that run. Yikes! By last night I had replaced it again, but wow...
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Increasing Track's Popularity
Over at the T&FN board there's an interesting discussion about this subject, originally in response to an idiotic article (Five ways to save the fading sport of track and field). I'm of the opinion that sports fans are interested in competition above all else and if they get that from track & field they can't help but love it. There are some other ideas. osko2000:
I remember the coverage cycling got back in the 80s and early 90s; it was near impossible to find, and when you did it was treated like a freakshow. Track is in a far superior position and always will be due to its huge participation base. I don't think track is dying. Rather, I think the elite/professional end of the sport is low-hanging fruit, currently ignored, that someone someday will recognize as good and easy pickings. The serious fan's job is to nudge the decision-makers in that direction.
The internet has also made the serious fan a bit of a decision-maker himself. For example, a self-appointed bigmouth can write up his own opinions for everyone to see. I wonder if others could come up with a weekly self-produced highlight show on YouTube, in the style of "This Week in Baseball". To avoid copyright infringement it would have to be limited to a talking-heads type of analysis, but at least it could be smart analysis. If the Superfan could get a sidekick, it's doable.
I think the lack of interest is because the public doesn't know who the athletes are. Take any one of the many reality shows, for example, that populate cable and network television: What do those shows do? They allow you to get to know the characters and in knowing you start caring....This cat is serious about his project, but this has been done before: ABC's maudlin "up close & personal"-type crap they used to sell the Olympics to casual viewers and that real sports fans don't care for. I don't think this stuff helps at all. Rather, Spickard gets to the heart of the matter:
Track & field needs similar coverage. Coverage that will set the stage for the drama of the big championships, a show that can follow athletes as they balance training with life, a program that can show what athletes think of their competitors and how they handle the pressures that result from wanting to be the best.
[W]e have a media who remains willfully ignorant, and no one who does cover track is passionate enough to cross over with the general audience enough to enthrall them. For instance, we can talk all we want about Americans only being interested in the Tour de France because of Lance Armstrong, but realistically it was the risk taking coverage by the former Outdoor Life Network and the passion of Phil Liggett that kept me coming back and will continue to keep me coming back to cycling. As a viewer, I was given insider status, rather than being talked to as if the announcers were afraid I'd change the channel.(emphasis added)
...
The NFL, for instance, REALLY challenges us with pre-game shows, post-game analysis, and knowledgeable deconstruction of the game in process. And we eat it up and ask for more. The Tour de France does the same, albeit not with such wild success, but they have managed to get a significant portion of America talking about skinny guys on bikes who don't do a whole hell of a lot other than race and occasionally crash. Why? Rather than shy away from the complexities, the viewer is challenged and feels intelligent in the process, just like in the NFL. All the while, the media in charge of track and field shies away from this approach, afraid to risk, defeating itself at every turn.
I remember the coverage cycling got back in the 80s and early 90s; it was near impossible to find, and when you did it was treated like a freakshow. Track is in a far superior position and always will be due to its huge participation base. I don't think track is dying. Rather, I think the elite/professional end of the sport is low-hanging fruit, currently ignored, that someone someday will recognize as good and easy pickings. The serious fan's job is to nudge the decision-makers in that direction.
The internet has also made the serious fan a bit of a decision-maker himself. For example, a self-appointed bigmouth can write up his own opinions for everyone to see. I wonder if others could come up with a weekly self-produced highlight show on YouTube, in the style of "This Week in Baseball". To avoid copyright infringement it would have to be limited to a talking-heads type of analysis, but at least it could be smart analysis. If the Superfan could get a sidekick, it's doable.
Sports Illustrated Shows Some Respect
Today's SI photo gallery is a preview of next week's USATF Championships.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
TV Listings
Additions, corrections, deletions? Post 'em.
Thursday, June 14
Fox College Sports Pacific, 1:30-4:30 PM
California High School Championships
(repeats 6/14 at 4:30 PM, 6/15 at 9:30 AM, 6/16 at 3:00 AM and 11:00 AM, 6/17 at 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM, 6/18 at 11:30 AM, 6/19at 3:00 AM and 2:30 PM, 6/20 at2:00 AM and 6:00 AM, 6/21 at 9:30 PM, 6/22 at 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM, 6/23 at 11:00 AM and 9:30 PM, 6/24 at 3:00 AM, 6/25 at 6:00 AM and midnight, 6/26 at 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM, 7/4 at 3:00 AM)
Friday, June 15
Fox College Sports Pacific, 2:00-5:00 AM
California Southern Section Masters Meet
(repeats 6/17 at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM, 6/18 at 2:30 AM and 5:30 PM, 6/19 at 6:00 AM, 6/23 at 6:00 AM, 7/7 at 1:30 AM and 12:30 PM)
Saturday, June 16
CBC, 2:00-4:30 PM
Oslo Golden League
Friday, June 22
ESPN2, 8:00-9:00 PM
USATF Championships
Saturday, June 23
NBC, 2:00-3:00 PM
ESPN2, 7:00-8:00 PM
USATF Championships
Sunday, June 24
NBC, 1:00-3:00 PM
USATF Championships
Wednesday, June 27
Fox College Sports Pacific, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
UCLA at USC
(repeats 6/27 at 7:00 PM, 6/28 at 3:00 AM)
Wednesday, July 4
NBC, 1:00 PM
Peachtree Road Race
Saturday, July 7
CBC, 2:00-4:00 PM
Paris Golden League
Monday, July 9
Fox College Sports Atlantic, 2:30-4:30 AM
SEC Indoor Championships
Saturday ,July 14
CBC, 4:30-6:00 PM
Rome Golden League
Saturday July 21
CBC, 3:00 PM
Canadian Championships
Sunday, August 5
NBC, 2:30-4:30 PM
2006 Ironman Triathlon World Championship
Saturday, August 25
CBC, 2:00 PM
World Championships
Sunday, August 26
CBC, 3:00 PM
World Championships
Tuesday, August 28
ESPN, 7:00 PM
Track Classic
Saturday, September 1
CBC, 2:00 PM
World Championships
Sunday, September 2
CBC, 3:00 PM
World Championships
Saturday September 8
CBC, 1:30 PM
Zurich Golden League
Saturday Sept 15
CBC, 2:30 PM
Brussels Golden League
December 1
NBC, 4:30-6:00 PM
Ironman Triathlon World Championships
Thursday, June 14
Fox College Sports Pacific, 1:30-4:30 PM
California High School Championships
(repeats 6/14 at 4:30 PM, 6/15 at 9:30 AM, 6/16 at 3:00 AM and 11:00 AM, 6/17 at 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM, 6/18 at 11:30 AM, 6/19at 3:00 AM and 2:30 PM, 6/20 at2:00 AM and 6:00 AM, 6/21 at 9:30 PM, 6/22 at 3:00 AM and 9:00 AM, 6/23 at 11:00 AM and 9:30 PM, 6/24 at 3:00 AM, 6/25 at 6:00 AM and midnight, 6/26 at 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM, 7/4 at 3:00 AM)
Friday, June 15
Fox College Sports Pacific, 2:00-5:00 AM
California Southern Section Masters Meet
(repeats 6/17 at 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM, 6/18 at 2:30 AM and 5:30 PM, 6/19 at 6:00 AM, 6/23 at 6:00 AM, 7/7 at 1:30 AM and 12:30 PM)
Saturday, June 16
CBC, 2:00-4:30 PM
Oslo Golden League
Friday, June 22
ESPN2, 8:00-9:00 PM
USATF Championships
Saturday, June 23
NBC, 2:00-3:00 PM
ESPN2, 7:00-8:00 PM
USATF Championships
Sunday, June 24
NBC, 1:00-3:00 PM
USATF Championships
Wednesday, June 27
Fox College Sports Pacific, 9:30 AM-12:30 PM
UCLA at USC
(repeats 6/27 at 7:00 PM, 6/28 at 3:00 AM)
Wednesday, July 4
NBC, 1:00 PM
Peachtree Road Race
Saturday, July 7
CBC, 2:00-4:00 PM
Paris Golden League
Monday, July 9
Fox College Sports Atlantic, 2:30-4:30 AM
SEC Indoor Championships
Saturday ,July 14
CBC, 4:30-6:00 PM
Rome Golden League
Saturday July 21
CBC, 3:00 PM
Canadian Championships
Sunday, August 5
NBC, 2:30-4:30 PM
2006 Ironman Triathlon World Championship
Saturday, August 25
CBC, 2:00 PM
World Championships
Sunday, August 26
CBC, 3:00 PM
World Championships
Tuesday, August 28
ESPN, 7:00 PM
Track Classic
Saturday, September 1
CBC, 2:00 PM
World Championships
Sunday, September 2
CBC, 3:00 PM
World Championships
Saturday September 8
CBC, 1:30 PM
Zurich Golden League
Saturday Sept 15
CBC, 2:30 PM
Brussels Golden League
December 1
NBC, 4:30-6:00 PM
Ironman Triathlon World Championships
They're Out To Get Us
More proof to support Tim Bedore's animal conspiracy...
BRAINERD, MN: As [Kandi] Hanson approached the halfway mark of the 10-kilometer Sour Grapes Half and Half run on Saturday, a spooked deer darted out of the woods and crashed into Hanson, sending the 28-year-old sprawling onto the grass before disappearing into the woods...Obviously these deer failed in their mission to eliminate the runners. Rest assured that bears would have finished the job, as they are godless killing machines.
Hanson and two friends, Lottie Oehrlein and Robin Warden, shrieked at their encounter with the first deer before cautiously continuing their run, oblivious of the second deer.
"We started running a little bit again and Lottie yelled out, 'Here comes another one!' and I couldn't get out of the way fast enough; it plowed into me."
...Hanson spit the dirt out of her mouth, brushed herself off and finished the race. She escaped with only minor scrapes, bruises and soreness.
Monday, June 11, 2007
New Ideas for the VISA tour
This blog is now one year old. I'm going to go back to my origins and just think out loud for a while.
A few years ago NASCAR made headlines with its new "Chase for the Championship" format. This year it's the PGA and its FedEx Cup. Most pro sports tours have season-long competitions culminating in qualification for a final championship. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure one of the very first to do this was the IAAF with its Grand Prix Final.
I think the fields at the USATF meet should be pared down enough that the meet can be pulled off in three days. Sixteen athletes per event would do the trick nicely. (For the Olympic Trials, though, 32 athletes per event and a whole week of competition is merited.) How do we pick those 16 athletes?
You may be surprised to know that until 1972, athletes had to win their way into the national meet; the '72 trials were the first to use a time-only qualifying format. As we've learned in NCAA track, times aren't as objective as one might think. Even worse, running for time instead of competition destroys competition in favor of time trialing.
I propose a new method based mostly on competition. It's a bit tricky, though, considering that USATF serves the needs of a wide array of athletes: international stars, national-level pros, collegians, and age-groupers. The competitions that would qualify athletes to the USATF outdoor championships would be the USATF juniors, the various levels of NCAA (and NAIA) championships, and the VISA Championship Series.
In the VISA tour, I'd give athletes points based on place. At the Boston, New York and Fayetteville indoor stops, they would score 5-3-1. At the USATF Indoor Championships, it would go 10-8-6-4-2-1. At the Carson, New York and Eugene outdoor meets it would go 6-4-3-2-1. (Of course, only athletes eligible for the USATF meets would score; all others would merely be skipped.)
However, collegians generally skip the VISA tour. That's OK; they've got their own national championships. Ditto for the under-20 crowd (mostly high schoolers). To pick our nationals fields, you take the athlete at the head of his/her list (VISA tour, NCAA D-I/D-II/D-III/NAIA, USATF Jr) with the best mark. We'd need to prioritize a little, though, as athletes with international A-standards go first, then B-standards next, and finally everyone else. Let me show you how it would work in two different examples.
In the men's 100 meters, right now there are 38 Americans with the IAAF World Championships A-standard. Since we're only going to take 16 to the USATF meet, we're only picking from this crowd. Here's how it works. We take the top athletes from the VISA tour (Shawn Crawford), NCAA (Walter Dix), and NAIA (Mike Rodgers), and take the man with the best mark since Jan 1 2006. It's Walter Dix (9.93).
Now we replace Dix with #2 at the NCAA (Trindon Holliday) and again select the athlete with the best time. It's Shawn Crawford (10.01).
Again, we replace Crawford with #2 on the VISA tour (DaBryan Blanton) and again select the athlete with the best time. It's Trindon Holliday (10.02).
As we continue until we reach 16 athletes, here's who we end up with:
Travis Padgett (3rd NCAA D-I; 10.00)
DaBryan Blanton (2nd VISA tour; 10.14)
Tyson Gay (3rd VISA tour; 9.84)
Michael LeBlanc (4th NCAA D-I, 10.17)
Mike Rodgers (1st NAIA; 10.20)
Michael Ray Garvin (6th NCAA D-I; 10.21)
Mark Jelks (4th VISA tour; 10.21)
Greg Bolden (7th NCAA D-I; 10.21)
Marcus Brunson (5th VISA tour; 9.99)
Leroy Dixon (6th VISA tour; 10.14)
Trell Kimmons (7th VISA tour; 10.17)
Leonard Scott (8th VISA tour; 9.91)
Bernard Williams (9th VISA tour, 10.17)
This example is in an event where the US has an embarrassment of riches. Another example is an event where we aren't so deep, the women's 800 meters. Here we have six athletes with the A-standard (Alice Schmidt, Hazel Clark, Treniere Clement, Alysia Johnson, Katie Erdman, and Nicole Teter) and three with the B-standard (Frances Santin, Tiffany McWilliams, and Heather Dorniden). We'll use our system to fill out the field to sixteen athletes. Assuming McWilliams doesn't enter the 800, that means eight more athletes.
While national collegiate champs from lower divisions and the USATF Junior champ could concievably qualify under our system, in this example none are fast enough to make it. So we're really only looking at the VISA tour and the NCAA. The first four from the NCAA have already made it, so now we're comparing 5th at the NCAA (Geena Gall) and the VISA tour leader (Christin Wurth-Thomas). Wurth-Thomas goes in first.
Now we replace her with #2 in the VISA tour, Nikeya Green. Green and Gall have the same best time (2:02.24), so they're both in. Continuing on this way, we end up with Morgan Ulceny, Temeka Kincy, Rebekah Noble, Mishael Berger, and Lauren Astin.
If a runner feels left out, there's only one response: get yourself into VISA tour events!
A few years ago NASCAR made headlines with its new "Chase for the Championship" format. This year it's the PGA and its FedEx Cup. Most pro sports tours have season-long competitions culminating in qualification for a final championship. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure one of the very first to do this was the IAAF with its Grand Prix Final.
I think the fields at the USATF meet should be pared down enough that the meet can be pulled off in three days. Sixteen athletes per event would do the trick nicely. (For the Olympic Trials, though, 32 athletes per event and a whole week of competition is merited.) How do we pick those 16 athletes?
You may be surprised to know that until 1972, athletes had to win their way into the national meet; the '72 trials were the first to use a time-only qualifying format. As we've learned in NCAA track, times aren't as objective as one might think. Even worse, running for time instead of competition destroys competition in favor of time trialing.
I propose a new method based mostly on competition. It's a bit tricky, though, considering that USATF serves the needs of a wide array of athletes: international stars, national-level pros, collegians, and age-groupers. The competitions that would qualify athletes to the USATF outdoor championships would be the USATF juniors, the various levels of NCAA (and NAIA) championships, and the VISA Championship Series.
In the VISA tour, I'd give athletes points based on place. At the Boston, New York and Fayetteville indoor stops, they would score 5-3-1. At the USATF Indoor Championships, it would go 10-8-6-4-2-1. At the Carson, New York and Eugene outdoor meets it would go 6-4-3-2-1. (Of course, only athletes eligible for the USATF meets would score; all others would merely be skipped.)
However, collegians generally skip the VISA tour. That's OK; they've got their own national championships. Ditto for the under-20 crowd (mostly high schoolers). To pick our nationals fields, you take the athlete at the head of his/her list (VISA tour, NCAA D-I/D-II/D-III/NAIA, USATF Jr) with the best mark. We'd need to prioritize a little, though, as athletes with international A-standards go first, then B-standards next, and finally everyone else. Let me show you how it would work in two different examples.
In the men's 100 meters, right now there are 38 Americans with the IAAF World Championships A-standard. Since we're only going to take 16 to the USATF meet, we're only picking from this crowd. Here's how it works. We take the top athletes from the VISA tour (Shawn Crawford), NCAA (Walter Dix), and NAIA (Mike Rodgers), and take the man with the best mark since Jan 1 2006. It's Walter Dix (9.93).
Now we replace Dix with #2 at the NCAA (Trindon Holliday) and again select the athlete with the best time. It's Shawn Crawford (10.01).
Again, we replace Crawford with #2 on the VISA tour (DaBryan Blanton) and again select the athlete with the best time. It's Trindon Holliday (10.02).
As we continue until we reach 16 athletes, here's who we end up with:
Travis Padgett (3rd NCAA D-I; 10.00)
DaBryan Blanton (2nd VISA tour; 10.14)
Tyson Gay (3rd VISA tour; 9.84)
Michael LeBlanc (4th NCAA D-I, 10.17)
Mike Rodgers (1st NAIA; 10.20)
Michael Ray Garvin (6th NCAA D-I; 10.21)
Mark Jelks (4th VISA tour; 10.21)
Greg Bolden (7th NCAA D-I; 10.21)
Marcus Brunson (5th VISA tour; 9.99)
Leroy Dixon (6th VISA tour; 10.14)
Trell Kimmons (7th VISA tour; 10.17)
Leonard Scott (8th VISA tour; 9.91)
Bernard Williams (9th VISA tour, 10.17)
This example is in an event where the US has an embarrassment of riches. Another example is an event where we aren't so deep, the women's 800 meters. Here we have six athletes with the A-standard (Alice Schmidt, Hazel Clark, Treniere Clement, Alysia Johnson, Katie Erdman, and Nicole Teter) and three with the B-standard (Frances Santin, Tiffany McWilliams, and Heather Dorniden). We'll use our system to fill out the field to sixteen athletes. Assuming McWilliams doesn't enter the 800, that means eight more athletes.
While national collegiate champs from lower divisions and the USATF Junior champ could concievably qualify under our system, in this example none are fast enough to make it. So we're really only looking at the VISA tour and the NCAA. The first four from the NCAA have already made it, so now we're comparing 5th at the NCAA (Geena Gall) and the VISA tour leader (Christin Wurth-Thomas). Wurth-Thomas goes in first.
Now we replace her with #2 in the VISA tour, Nikeya Green. Green and Gall have the same best time (2:02.24), so they're both in. Continuing on this way, we end up with Morgan Ulceny, Temeka Kincy, Rebekah Noble, Mishael Berger, and Lauren Astin.
If a runner feels left out, there's only one response: get yourself into VISA tour events!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Pre Classic
You can read the news various places, such as the Eugene Register-Guard. My thoughts...
SYMMONDS!
A new Prefontaine meet record while outgunning two legitimate world powers!
Why does he excite so much? He's an thrilling runner for sure, who runs smart and never seems to get beaten down the stretch. However, I think it's as much the rest of America's bright hopes for distance running (or lack thereof) as anything else. You've got your Alan Webb, who probably could never have lived up to the hype and at this point runs well just often enough to tease and infuriate us but no more. You've got your various Colorado alums that were all supposed to be the next Great White Hope and basically none of them have panned out. You've got your Bernard Lagat, who definitely is a world power but his nationality switch feels so...mercenary.
And then there's Nick Symmonds. His meteoric rise means there are no expectations for him. He doesn't look like a physical freak. He's an everyman. And he just keeps gettting better and better. I also couldn't help but notice the irony of an American who has been described as havinga "hockey-player's body" outkicking a Canadian and a Russian.
I could put up my standard TV complaints about the ridiculously amateurish production of the meet, but what's the point? No one in charge of putting it on the air seems to care one damn bit about whether it's actually good or not. Hey guys, they have something called onscreen graphics. You could give us field event standings in text form, or at least tell us how many laps are left in a distance race!
SYMMONDS!
A new Prefontaine meet record while outgunning two legitimate world powers!
Why does he excite so much? He's an thrilling runner for sure, who runs smart and never seems to get beaten down the stretch. However, I think it's as much the rest of America's bright hopes for distance running (or lack thereof) as anything else. You've got your Alan Webb, who probably could never have lived up to the hype and at this point runs well just often enough to tease and infuriate us but no more. You've got your various Colorado alums that were all supposed to be the next Great White Hope and basically none of them have panned out. You've got your Bernard Lagat, who definitely is a world power but his nationality switch feels so...mercenary.
And then there's Nick Symmonds. His meteoric rise means there are no expectations for him. He doesn't look like a physical freak. He's an everyman. And he just keeps gettting better and better. I also couldn't help but notice the irony of an American who has been described as havinga "hockey-player's body" outkicking a Canadian and a Russian.
I could put up my standard TV complaints about the ridiculously amateurish production of the meet, but what's the point? No one in charge of putting it on the air seems to care one damn bit about whether it's actually good or not. Hey guys, they have something called onscreen graphics. You could give us field event standings in text form, or at least tell us how many laps are left in a distance race!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Vacation Photos
Don't say I didn't warn you...
What do these have to do with track & field? Virtually nothing. But this is MY blog and I'll do as I darn well please.
Wednesday morning was check-out day at school, and as soon as I turned in my grades my wife & I left for Lake Erie. I'd planned this trip a while back. My original destination was a day or two at Kelleys Island. If you compare the Lake Erie islands to the Florida Keys, then Kelleys is like Big Pine Key--largely quiet and undeveloped as compared to the other islands. (And Put-In-Bay is definitely Key West. Not that there's anything wrong with that.) While I fantasize about retiring to a Greek island, I actually have concrete plans to retire to Kelleys.
So my wife mentioned the trip at work a while back, and her prof/boss said "Oh, we have a cottage at Lakeside. We won't be there that week so you can use it." Considering the tight budget of a couple consisting of a teacher and a full-time Ph.D. student, we said "Free? Taken." But what the heck is Lakeside?
Lakeside bills itself as "the Chataqua on Lake Erie". (If you don't know what a Chataqua is--and these days most people don't--follow the link.) It's a private community of cottages and a hotel on Ohio's Marblehead peninsula, which itself is the closest mainland to the above islands and just a few miles from Cedar Point. The whole joint was started by the Methodist church in 1873 and had its big expansion near the turn of the century. With minor exceptions it still looks that way, and it's still run by the Methodists.
While I'm not a truly church-ey type, I was not about to turn my nose up at free lodging near the lake no matter what it was like. I was pretty stunned when we pulled in. First off, the whole gated-community thing was a bit weird.
This "cottage" we stayed in has more square footage than my whole house. And Lake Erie was maybe 100 yards away. This is where I ran every morning.
The photo doesn't do the view justice, as the lake view got washed out. The whole place could only be described as a mix of summer church camp, upscale 19th-century seaside resort, and 1950s small town. Not where I would at first have picked to go, but a neat experience nonetheless and I will probably come back again. This place is pretty much the last of a dying breed.
We did take a day trip out to Kelleys. First off, we had to go to the brew pub AND the winery. (Lakeside, being Methodist and old-fashioned, is dry and our cottage probably had the only bar in the whole town. We made up for lost time.) There's also a lot of outdoor pursuits; the swimming is good and just biking around the island is worth the effort by itself. A relatively short walk brings you to unusual ecosystems and geological formations.
These are the world's best example of glacial grooves.
OK, here's the T&F connection. I just missed the Kelleys Island 5k & 10k races (they're tomorrow). Marblehead & the islands have a lot of races and they're all worth checking out, if for no other reason than the gorgeous scenery. Some are well advertised, and some you wouldn't know about unless I told you. The ones that have already passed? There's next year.
May 12: Lakeside Daisy Day 5k (Village of Marblehead)
June 2: East Harbor State Park 5k
June 3: Run for Humanity 3-mile & 5-mile (Catawba Island)
June 10: Kelleys Island 5k & 10k races
July 22: Raccoon Run 5k (Lakeside)
August 4: JF Walleyes 5k (Middle Bass Island)
August 6: Lakeside Triathlon
August 19: Great Lake Escape triathlon (East Harbor State Park)
September 22: Miller Boat Line 5k at Put-In-Bay (South Bass Island)
What do these have to do with track & field? Virtually nothing. But this is MY blog and I'll do as I darn well please.
Wednesday morning was check-out day at school, and as soon as I turned in my grades my wife & I left for Lake Erie. I'd planned this trip a while back. My original destination was a day or two at Kelleys Island. If you compare the Lake Erie islands to the Florida Keys, then Kelleys is like Big Pine Key--largely quiet and undeveloped as compared to the other islands. (And Put-In-Bay is definitely Key West. Not that there's anything wrong with that.) While I fantasize about retiring to a Greek island, I actually have concrete plans to retire to Kelleys.So my wife mentioned the trip at work a while back, and her prof/boss said "Oh, we have a cottage at Lakeside. We won't be there that week so you can use it." Considering the tight budget of a couple consisting of a teacher and a full-time Ph.D. student, we said "Free? Taken." But what the heck is Lakeside?
Lakeside bills itself as "the Chataqua on Lake Erie". (If you don't know what a Chataqua is--and these days most people don't--follow the link.) It's a private community of cottages and a hotel on Ohio's Marblehead peninsula, which itself is the closest mainland to the above islands and just a few miles from Cedar Point. The whole joint was started by the Methodist church in 1873 and had its big expansion near the turn of the century. With minor exceptions it still looks that way, and it's still run by the Methodists.
While I'm not a truly church-ey type, I was not about to turn my nose up at free lodging near the lake no matter what it was like. I was pretty stunned when we pulled in. First off, the whole gated-community thing was a bit weird.
This "cottage" we stayed in has more square footage than my whole house. And Lake Erie was maybe 100 yards away. This is where I ran every morning.The photo doesn't do the view justice, as the lake view got washed out. The whole place could only be described as a mix of summer church camp, upscale 19th-century seaside resort, and 1950s small town. Not where I would at first have picked to go, but a neat experience nonetheless and I will probably come back again. This place is pretty much the last of a dying breed.We did take a day trip out to Kelleys. First off, we had to go to the brew pub AND the winery. (Lakeside, being Methodist and old-fashioned, is dry and our cottage probably had the only bar in the whole town. We made up for lost time.) There's also a lot of outdoor pursuits; the swimming is good and just biking around the island is worth the effort by itself. A relatively short walk brings you to unusual ecosystems and geological formations.
These are the world's best example of glacial grooves.OK, here's the T&F connection. I just missed the Kelleys Island 5k & 10k races (they're tomorrow). Marblehead & the islands have a lot of races and they're all worth checking out, if for no other reason than the gorgeous scenery. Some are well advertised, and some you wouldn't know about unless I told you. The ones that have already passed? There's next year.
May 12: Lakeside Daisy Day 5k (Village of Marblehead)
June 2: East Harbor State Park 5k
June 3: Run for Humanity 3-mile & 5-mile (Catawba Island)
June 10: Kelleys Island 5k & 10k races
July 22: Raccoon Run 5k (Lakeside)
August 4: JF Walleyes 5k (Middle Bass Island)
August 6: Lakeside Triathlon
August 19: Great Lake Escape triathlon (East Harbor State Park)
September 22: Miller Boat Line 5k at Put-In-Bay (South Bass Island)
Sunday, June 03, 2007
State Meet
You can read all about the meet at Dyestat, or any of several hundred newspaper articles about it; I see no need to give a blow-by-blow accounting of who won what and how fast they ran. Rather, I'll give my experience as a fan.
This is a two day meet, but I wasn't able to get down to Columbus soon enough on Friday to see the events I really wanted to see--the 4x800 relay finals of each division and the D-I boys' shot put. The latter event only interested me because I'd never yet seen Jimmie Pacifico, the nation's #1 shot-putter. I saw his first few attempts in the discus, where he was a heavy favorite.
But Chris Littleon of Harrison had a huge day, putting up his best four throws of the year while Pacifico threw "only" 179' 4". This would have to be considered one of, if not the, biggest upsets of the meet.
I went over to watch the Division II running events, where Mantua Crestwood's Cassandra Schenk was attempting an impossible 1600m-800m-3200m triple in a 75-minute time frame. She came close, with two wins and a second. Amongst the pleasant surprises was Sandusky Perkins' Cory Leslie:
Back in the pack for the first several laps, he ran his last 600m in dominating fashion and came within a few tenths of the meet record...and school record. When you're getting close to Scott Fry's marks, you're getting somewhere.
After D-II was over, I went back to the discus area for the Division III girls' competition. Although her school is only 20 minutes away from my house, I'd never seen Emily Pendleton throw.
Then back to the track for the Division I running events. First off, I totally underestimated Glenville's quality, which was apparent right from the first event. Second, the big day I'd hoped Toledo would have didn't quite happen. We got a first, three seconds and a third.
The heart-breaker of the day was Central Catholic's Sam Hogue. He had been running much better than the rest of the state for a month, and led into the final hurdle...which his trail leg caught and he hit the deck.
Most of my event-by-event predictions were wrong. I was exactly right about the two events I've paid the most attention to, the boys' 1600m and 3200m. So I guess I've been not enough of a fan.
A lot of people don't like the D-III meet beacuse the standards of competition aren't as high. First of all, I think that's crap. Look at this:
That's Stephanie Morgan with 80 meters to go in the 1600; second place is just entering the curve.
Secondly, the most interesting thing at a track meet is not the clock but the athletes fighting to win. Whether they're fast or not is secondary. And these small schools represent the best part of high school sports. An entire town will turn out to see one kid run, and they're immensely proud of them no matter how they finish.
My pick for the most exciting race of the day: D-III boys 300m hurdles. Columbus Grove's shot at the title was based on two athletes, thrower Cory Muelmann and hurdler/vaulter Heath Nickles. The two already scored 28 points and this was the last event they were in. Nickles ran like a scared rabbit in lane 8 and was behind until the very last step, after which he took a face-plant on the track. Everybody watched the scoreboard because we couldn't tell who actually won; the ten or so seconds we waited for the results seemed like they took forever. At the time I thought it sealed a win for Columbus Grove (site of the ever-popular Beer Bottle Open) but I hadn't counted on Dayton Christian having basically a perfect meet--in four distance races they were only beaten by Samuel Borchers, which is essentially like four wins.
And then on the way home I got to hear A Prarie Home Companion. A perfect ending to a great day.
This is a two day meet, but I wasn't able to get down to Columbus soon enough on Friday to see the events I really wanted to see--the 4x800 relay finals of each division and the D-I boys' shot put. The latter event only interested me because I'd never yet seen Jimmie Pacifico, the nation's #1 shot-putter. I saw his first few attempts in the discus, where he was a heavy favorite.
But Chris Littleon of Harrison had a huge day, putting up his best four throws of the year while Pacifico threw "only" 179' 4". This would have to be considered one of, if not the, biggest upsets of the meet.
I went over to watch the Division II running events, where Mantua Crestwood's Cassandra Schenk was attempting an impossible 1600m-800m-3200m triple in a 75-minute time frame. She came close, with two wins and a second. Amongst the pleasant surprises was Sandusky Perkins' Cory Leslie:
Back in the pack for the first several laps, he ran his last 600m in dominating fashion and came within a few tenths of the meet record...and school record. When you're getting close to Scott Fry's marks, you're getting somewhere.
After D-II was over, I went back to the discus area for the Division III girls' competition. Although her school is only 20 minutes away from my house, I'd never seen Emily Pendleton throw.
Then back to the track for the Division I running events. First off, I totally underestimated Glenville's quality, which was apparent right from the first event. Second, the big day I'd hoped Toledo would have didn't quite happen. We got a first, three seconds and a third.
The heart-breaker of the day was Central Catholic's Sam Hogue. He had been running much better than the rest of the state for a month, and led into the final hurdle...which his trail leg caught and he hit the deck.
Most of my event-by-event predictions were wrong. I was exactly right about the two events I've paid the most attention to, the boys' 1600m and 3200m. So I guess I've been not enough of a fan.
A lot of people don't like the D-III meet beacuse the standards of competition aren't as high. First of all, I think that's crap. Look at this:
That's Stephanie Morgan with 80 meters to go in the 1600; second place is just entering the curve.Secondly, the most interesting thing at a track meet is not the clock but the athletes fighting to win. Whether they're fast or not is secondary. And these small schools represent the best part of high school sports. An entire town will turn out to see one kid run, and they're immensely proud of them no matter how they finish.
My pick for the most exciting race of the day: D-III boys 300m hurdles. Columbus Grove's shot at the title was based on two athletes, thrower Cory Muelmann and hurdler/vaulter Heath Nickles. The two already scored 28 points and this was the last event they were in. Nickles ran like a scared rabbit in lane 8 and was behind until the very last step, after which he took a face-plant on the track. Everybody watched the scoreboard because we couldn't tell who actually won; the ten or so seconds we waited for the results seemed like they took forever. At the time I thought it sealed a win for Columbus Grove (site of the ever-popular Beer Bottle Open) but I hadn't counted on Dayton Christian having basically a perfect meet--in four distance races they were only beaten by Samuel Borchers, which is essentially like four wins.
And then on the way home I got to hear A Prarie Home Companion. A perfect ending to a great day.
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