Lookie here now! Santa dropped a big one on a few of you dreamers. The IAAF announced yesterday that their Olympic Marathon Standards have been slightly eased. As of 12/10 if you have run 2:45 or 2:19:00 you are eligible to run in the Games. As long as you finish top 3 in your federation’s Olympic Trials or other selection process.
Questions abound however. Will the standards be implemented retroactively? That is, if you ran 2:18:56 when the qualifying window opened waaay back in 2012 will you be lucky. These questions will be answered by USATF in the next few hours we hope.
Runners everywhere bundled into their seats this morning, headed to the City By The Bay and manana’s Club XC Champs. Heading out from Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, Des Moines, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, Denver, OKC, and just about every other direction you point your staff. Our once a year chance to show how Nebraska measures up to the rest of the country. And to see how our Nebraska Association clubs fare for Good Life bragging rights. As close to the Big Time as many will see for the first time. Great experience and motivator for anyone toeing the line.
My last trip to Club Cross, in 2012 , driving non stop to Lexington, KY in a driving storm, leaving at the last minute due to a couple of scheduling issues, night blind, unfamiliar roads, scary. My mates that morning would go 20th O/A Women and 22nd O/A Men.
Bend, OR hosted in 2013. Team Nebraska sent a men’s team only, finishing 40th. Of note, the Kansas City Smoke finished 26th in 2013, their progress obvious as you read on. Bethlehem, PA hosted last year and the Smoke moved up to 18th. Team IowaAblaze finished 26th, Team Nebraska was not represented, and LRC Racing finished 41st.
It will read a little differently come Monday due to the fact that the field has been split into “A” and “B” races. But that’s the beauty of The Race, that Great Arbiter that Never Lies. Time. Results. Wishing all our Midwest Region USATF teams a move up the food chain, Giddyup!
And You! Fellas! Captain! Foreigner! Hometown! Ringer! Al! My Mates! Let this be your 2016 Tallahassee Wake up Call!!
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