USATF-NJ LONG DISTANCE RUNNING MEETING WILL MAKE DECISIONS IMPORTANT TO GRAND PRIX
On Thursday, February 23rd, barring another snow storm, the long distance running committee (LDR) of USATF-NJ will be holding what is probably the most important meeting of the year. It is at this meeting, the first of the new year, that changes can be made to the conduct of the various grand prix that are in the association’s program.
You could say this is a banner year for proposed changes as five, and a possible six will be discussed at the meeting. The possible sixth may be the most interesting.
The reason why it is only a possible item is that a new procedure was approved in 2005 to the effect that proposed rule changes would be presented at the September meeting in order that the possible ramifications, both good and bad, could be evaluated prior to the vote.
The sixth proposal came in after the September meeting. The LDR Executive committee felt that it had enough merit to warrant being put on the agenda, if the committee members who were present at the September meeting agree.
Currently the points for each New Balance Grand Prix race are assigned in order of finishing place to only USATF-NJ members. This can lead to skewed grand prix points if a race is loaded with non members. A race that has not established itself well as a grand prix race may find that a fifth or tenth, or 20th finisher is the first grand prix racer. Such a runner will be awarded 500 points, far above what he or she normally would earn when running against peers in a better populated race. While it is great to “get lucky” as it is called, such a spike in points can have a negative impact on those racers who do not run in such races.
This proposed, all inclusive scoring system will have the effect, it is foreseen, of keeping the competition between runners of similar ability much tighter and more exciting.
Another far reaching change, if approved, is to remove the top three placers in each age group from the two mini-series grand prix. The mini-series were always intended to allow for the runners who specialize at a particular distance range to capitalize on the mini-series of those distances. By eliminating the elite runners who win top three in the NBGP, the others in their age group would move up, thus making for a more exciting contest for them.
Another fun proposal is all about establishing a completely new grand prix series carved out of the existing one. Maybe carved out is not a good description, as in this new “exhibition” grand prix, the scores for every race that is run in the series will count toward a year end total. Currently in the granddaddy grand prix, the New Balance Grand Prix, only nine races are counted, divided between three distance categories and championship and non-championship subcategories. This new one would “count’em” all. For those runners who race a lot but who may be middle-of-the-pack runners, they will have their own contest to engage in.
A proposed change for teams deals with double dipping. As there is no national rule prohibiting it, many associations allow double dipping on their teams. What that means is that a runner can be used by a club on more than one team. One runner may be placed on his or her own age division team and another that is a younger age division. This has worked pretty well in helping clubs who do not have a lot of manpower to field teams.
It works like this. The Speed Hawks use Fast Freddy on their M50 team, but because they have only four guys on the M40 team they also place Fast Freddy on the younger team.
Sometimes it is not as clean as that. Sometimes an entire team from an older age group has also been declared on a younger team. Fast Freddy may be one of five M50 guys running for the Speed Hawks M40 team.
The latest proposal attempts to keep that from happening by dictating how many runners from another age group may be on each age division team. Each age division team would have to have a minimum number of runners who are in that age division.
My personal view on this is that enacting such a rule change will have a negative effect on the teams and clubs by too severely limiting the makeup of the teams. An even bigger reason against it is the difficulty in administering the rule on race day. It is sure to elongate the awards ceremonies as each team is examined for compliance. One runner has told me that he has already found a loop-hole that a clever team captain could use to circumvent the rule.
The bottom line when making rule changes is what is in the best interest of the participants and the integrity of the program. In addition to the possible nightmare in enforcing the rule, my concern about altering the team qualifications is that it will shut out more clubs from the overall club scoring as well as the team scoring.
Individuals who participate in the USATF-NJ long distance running programs and who want a say in how they are conducted should mark their calendar for Thursday February 23rd. The meeting takes place at the Verizon Wireless headquarters in Bedminster. More information and directions are on the USATF-NJ website.
SNOW STORM CANCELS TRACK & FIELD MEET TODAY
USATF- NJ announced Saturday that the track & field championship meet that was scheduled for today has been postponed due to the snow storm. A new date will be announced as soon as arrangements have been made at the Jersey City Armory.
Published in the DAILY RECORD of Morris County, New Jersey onSunday, February 12, 2006
Copyright Madeline Bost, 2006
