Talk South Dakota Sports!

[UB40]

Maybe many of you track enthusiasts already knew this rule. I sure didn't and it came into play at a region meet last week.

A junior high athlete that competes in the 3200M can only compete in one other running event during that track meet. However they are allowed two additional field events to make up their four total events.
The way the rule reads a JR high athlete can compete in the 3200M and the 1600M but could not compete in the 3200M the open 100M and the 4x100M.

My question is why is this rule in the books?
Is it a question of safety? It seems a combination of a 3200M and a 1600M would be more taxing than a 3200, 100, 200.

It is interesting that there seems to be no concern or rules regulating a 130 pound 7th grader wrestler possibly going up against a senior 130 pounder five years older than him.

I say either let the junior high athletes compete under the same rules and restrictions as all varsity track athletes or make junior high tracksters ineligible to compete.

This one leg in the pool philosiphy doesn't make much sense to me.

[Log Homes]

Pyhsiologically, the 4x800, 400, 800, 4x400 quadruple would be much harder on an athletes body than a 3200/1600 double.

[UB40]

[NebraskaNorm]

[Gideon]

Since we appear to be speculating broadly, let me give you a different take on the rule. Maybe it's to prevent middle schoolers from dominating events. Especially in girls track in A and B schools, middle schoolers and 9th-10th graders seem to populate the track placements. Since the girls sometimes hit a performance peak at about 10th grade, maybe the rule to keep them from dominating the medals stand.

[Log Homes]

Interesting take-

Now that I look at the heat sheets, there are ZERO 12th grade girls in the 1600 and ZERO 12th grade girls in the 3200....(for Class A).

[Inoallaxme]

Minnesota at the high school level you can only do three running events. If you do four, one must be a field event. Dumbest rule ever.

Only two classes in Minnesota. Stupid.

No in season qualifying marks for state other than the sectional meet. Stupid.

And the state meet set-up is an absloute joke. Track in that state needs a serious overhaul.

[oldhsrunner]

How did it come into play at a region track meet? What meet and what happened?

[trackroks]

Not letting Junior high athletes compete because they might dominate the medal stand in ridiculous. If an athlete in good, they're good, it doesn't matter if they're in junior high or a senior.

[NebraskaNorm]

I bolded some of the items that were discussed on this thread and other threads. Looks like some agree with the contention some of us (me) had with the way the Medley was run. I like it.

The link takes you to the entire document for all-sport recommendations. You may have saw this in the basketball thread.

http://sdhsaa.com/Advisory%20Recommendations-2010.pdf

1. Eliminate the minimum number of teams required for in-season qualifying meet. Only requirements would be to submit form, have registered meet referee and starter.

2. The 3 curve stagger will be used for the medley relay beginning with the 2011 track season. (Will be necessary to add the first exchange zone on the back stretch of track).

3. Eliminate the restriction for 7-8th grade participants running the 3200 meter run. Current rule states if a 7-8th grader runs the 3200 meter run, they are restricted to one additional running event.

4. Pre wrap will not be allowed as a head band and/or hair control device.

Other Items Discussed:
1. Change qualifying standards to average of 8th place rather than average of 6th place

2. Adding wheelchair event to the 2010 State Meet – exhibition event, not scored
_________________
“Not the victory but the action. Not the goal but the game. In the deed the glory.”

[Log Homes]

1. Change qualifying standards to average of 8th place rather than average of 6th place

I apologize in advance to people who support this, but I've done the math and there is no way it works out to make sense.

A. In almost all cases in the sprint relays, within the three year window of averages, someone either drops the baton and 8th place is super, super slow or there's a DQ. A 60 second 4x100 for 1 point at the state meet will drastically skew the QT.

B. The same can be said for sprints, where someone pulls up lame
and pulls the Standing Outside the Fire last 50 meters. Then you factor in a 55 second 100m into the qualifying time plan?

[NebraskaNorm]

[Minetti]

I agree with Log Homes on the 8th place qualifying idea that was discussed at the last coaches meeting. So many times there are DQ's in the finals of events on Saturday, and with only 8 in the finals using the 8th place qualifying system would not be a legit system.
Currently the state takes the 6th place time over the last 6 years at the state track meet and averages the times to determine the next year's state qualifying standard.

A few examples of the 8th place finish at the last 6 state meets and the qualifying standards that would be in effect with the proposed system:

Class A Boys Medley Relay
2004: 4:02.00
2005: 4:01.76
2006: 3:48.94
2007: 3:49.84
2008: DQ
2009: DQ
2010 Qualifying Standard would be: 3:55.6
Current 2010 Qualifying Standard is: 3:49.0

Class A Girls Medley Relay
2004: 4:35.51
2005: 4:43.7
2006: 4:34.7
2007: 4:47.59
2008: 4:39.55
2009: 4:49.62
2010 Qualifying Standard would be: 4:41.8
Current 2010 Qualifying Standard is: 4:32.2

The 8th place system would not be a good choice for determining the state meet qualifying standards. The examples can go on and on. That being said, I will soon post a system several coaches and I have discussed regarding a new an improved qualifying system for Class A and Class B!!

[Minetti]

Top 24 Qualifying Proposal for Class “B” and “A” State Track & Field Meet

Abstract: At the end of the year, the top 24 athletes in each event and the top 24 relays in each event will automatically qualify for the state track meet.

1. Eliminate the 1st and 2nd place automatic qualifying process at region track meets.

2. Eliminate qualifying standards. Instead, take the top 24 athletes in each event for that particular year. (Similar to the Class “AA” system, minus any provisional or automatic standards.)

3. Coaches enter athlete’s marks after meets, very similar to the current system for entering state qualifiers. (There is no limit to the number of athletes entered in each event, nor are there any time or distance qualifications that need to be met.) The ongoing list will be available for anyone to view. It is up to coaches as to whether or not they choose to enter an athete's time/distance/mark.

4. After region meets, coaches must declare whether Top 24 athletes will be participating in an event at the state meet. If they do not compete, their name will be removed from the Top 24 List and remaining athletes will move up the list.

5. On the Sunday before the state track meet the final Top 24 will be entered into flight, heat, and lane assignments and posted on the SDHSAA website.

6. Use “AA” rules for deciding ties: if there is a tie for the 24th spot, all athletes who are tied will qualify for the state meet and will be entered into flight, heat, and lane assignment.

7. No entry restrictions at region meets (does not matter what you will be running at state meet). Teams can use the region meet to compete for the team title and improve individual or relay ranking.


Why the Top 24 Proposal?

1. Equal chance at the beginning of the year for EVERY athlete to qualify for the state meet, regardless of qualifying standards or region strength.

2. Increase the number of athletes at the state meet. In 2009, the average number of individual entries per event for Class B and A, both boys and girls was 19.5 per event. There will be a guaranteed 24 entries per event in this system. The average number of total individual entries for both classes and both genders at the 2009 state meet was 273. With the Top 24 system there will be a total of 336 individual entries each year.

3. Current qualifying standards are not based on the current level of talent in the state. Instead they are based on averaging the 6th place finish at the state track meet over the past 6 years. The top 24 system qualifies the top athletes and teams from the current year.

4. Currently, the state track meet is not a competition between the top athletes in the state. It is more of a competition among regions, as two athletes from each region will always qualify for each event each year, regardless of their time or distance. The top 24 system is the best way to ensure a state featuring the top competitors in each event.

5. The Top 24 proposal rewards strong regions for having considerable depth in a certain event. Under the current system, region depth is not rewarded, but rather penalized.

6. The Top 24 Proposal provides a simple, objective, and common sense approach to selecting athletes for the state track meet. The process will be easy for all coaches, athletes and fans to understand.

7. The Top 24 Proposal will create better competition at the state track meet. Consider the excitement of field events, races, or relays that feature the top 24 individuals and teams throughout the entire state! After all, it is the state meet.

8. With a ranking system available online for athletes, coaches, and fans, there will undoubtedly be a higher level of excitement, anticipation, and competition during the season.

9. Never-say-never approach for teams and athletes. Even if an athlete is ranked below the 24th spot in their event, they are never counted out. It will bring to life underdog stories and wild card upsets. It is also a great motivator for athletes to keep working towards getting better as the year progresses.

10. The Top 24 Proposal will give South Dakota a true state track meet, with the top athletes across the state having an equal chance at making it to the final meet of the season.

Possible Amendment
1. 1st place finisher at the region meet automatically qualifies for the state meet. The remaining 16 best qualifiers will be entered in the state meet.

[NebraskaNorm]

No objections to that concept.

Minetti, you ready for track season?

Greatest time of year - where all the athletes converge.
_________________
“Not the victory but the action. Not the goal but the game. In the deed the glory.”