The UK A make a very odd statement below saying “The selection standards (times/distances/heights) are in line with IAAF standards, bar the walks and marathon, in which UKA employs tougher standards to bring them in line with other disciplines.”
What does this mean – what are they trying to suggest, if anything?
It may be true that the A and B standards don’t reflect the chances of a medal – but they are supposed to be entry standards. Obviously every event has to have many more entrants than medallists.
How bizarre for two of Britain’s leading events to be picked out in this way. Or maybe UKA are not correctly communicating what they actually mean….?
The actual standards required are (* stands for better than IAAF A or B standards): For women 1:31:15 (A*), 1:33:30 (B); Men: 50km 3:55:00 (A*), 3:58:00 (B*), 20km 1:22:30 (A – ie no * =standard standard!), 1:24:20 (B).
Strangely, that A for women is 18 seconds ahead of her Johanna Jackson’s Beijing UK Record. No one would be more up for a challenge but this strikes as mean! There is room for some discretion in the criteria, however.
UK Athletics have revealed their selection policies for next year’s IAAF World Championships and European Indoor Championships. These are the first such policies made under the direction of new Head Coach Charles van Commenee, who will officially take up his role in February.
The 2009 policies have been simplified for greater clarity. Athletes who achieve the standard at least once and win the trials will be given automatic selection. Aside from marathon and walks, UK Athletics will also employ a single selection date, rather than issuing two separate drafts.
The key points for selection for the IAAF World Championships, which take place in Berlin on 15-23 August are:
Priority will go to individuals and relay squads deemed capable of either winning a medal or finishing in the top eight in Berlin
Athletes who achieve at least one current “A” standard during the qualification period (1 April until 26 July) and win their event at the AVIVA World Trials and UK Championships in Birmingham on 10-12 July will be automatically selected
One selection meeting will take place and will be held after the AVIVA London Grand Prix on 27 July
The selection standards (times/distances/heights) are in line with IAAF standards, bar the walks and marathon, in which UKA employs tougher standards to bring them in line with other disciplines
UKA will only enter teams for the Marathon World Cup (incorporated into IAAF World Championships) if enough athletes qualify for the IAAF World Championships by right as individuals
UK Athletics
