Can anyone explain the way the Olympic Trials selection policies work?
In the the sprints it's easy. Lots of people make the IOC qualifying times, the top three from the trials go.
In the distance events it's bizarre. Not many people make the times, people drop out of finals, and it all becomes byzantine.
I think what's happening is that line by line, the rules that USATF has laid down are pretty clear and hard to argue with. But when you put them together, and add reality, they are revealed as somewhat inconsistent with the goal of getting the best, uninjured people on the line at the Olympics.
Posted by robe0419 at July 21, 2004 12:57 PM