Hot off the World Wide Web, the NCAA national committee (or subcommittee) has announced the championship fields for next week's championships in Charlotte.
At first glance, the (sub)committee was a little more generous on the women's side, taking 19 in the 800, 1,500 and 5,000 and 18 in the steeple and 10k. (Last year in San Angelo saw one bigger field, as 20 advanced in the 5,000.) They reached deep, too: Sofia Monroe (Adams State) was 32nd on the 1,500 performance list.
The men have three fields of 17 and two of (the minimum) 16. Iain Donnan -- finalist indoors and Western State's top finisher in Evansville -- won't be in Charlotte. Neither will indoors half-mile runner-up Nelson Mwangi (Queens).
Looks like more men than women will be doubling in Charlotte. It would be interesting how the (sub)committee arrived at its field sizes...
I agree, there's supposed to be an equal number of men and women (I think), yet they took 17-19 in most women's events (not just distance) and only 16 in most of the men's. If more men are doubling, then there should be more men's extra berths than women's, but there aren't. There are people who ran 20 sec faster than the slowest qualifier last year that didn't make it in the men's 10k, and they only took 16! And look at how many auto's the men's steeple had and they only took one extra who ran 9:09, even though like 3 people ran 9:09! This is why there should be a regional meet!
ReplyDeleteAs a coach, I imagine it's tough to explain to an athlete. Perhaps more transparency would be a start. And it sure puts a premium on getting athletes into fast races.
ReplyDeleteI never understand why a committee would take the least amount of runners, would it not be better all around to take the larger amount without it creating hazards with in the field (a field of over 25 in the 5k would not be good). Leaving out Iain Donnan and Nelson Mwangi is almost hurting field.
ReplyDeletelucky boy i was the 17th qualifier :)
ReplyDeleteyou must be ryan, patrick or joseph? congrats! your next step is to make the final...
ReplyDeleteWhy are they having prelims in the mens 5k with only 16 in the field?
ReplyDeleteWhy have they taken 20 in the mens 100 and 400 and yet 16 in the mens 5k and 10k?
Why are there two sprint relays yet zero distance relays?
It's quite clear who the NCAA want to win!!
is it too much to ask for a DMR?
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