The USATF-Minnesota web-site is currently featuring an interview with former national USATF Men's Long Distance Running Executive Committee member Dave Coyne that I conducted recently. Coyne was on hand last winter when the Men's LDR committee chose to change the qualifying standard for the men's Olympic Trails Marathon to a single 2:19:00 standard.
In the interview, HERE, Coyne offers his take on how the decision came about at the USA Track & Field annual meeting in Honolulu and provides his analysis of the pros and cons of the new standard.
Back in December, DtB interviewed USATF-Minnesota treasurer Chris Kartschoke about the revised standard. You can find that interview HERE.
Nice interview, Charlie. I personally think the 'A' standard is fine, and they could make it even faster if they wanted. However, the 'B' standard needs to be reinstated at a level that encourages development.
ReplyDeleteLatimer had a personal vendetta against a few athletes he didn't like, and he's taking it out on the whole group. I see this decision as very negative, and it's going to take the men's marathon back to the 90s--not where anyone wants it to be.