XC set for Olympics.

Chivito550

robinph wrote: »

Would you though? Other than the potential number of athletes could be higher as you can have a mass start and don't need to restrict numbers. Is anyone who is running the 5km going to take part? Is anyone targeting a minor city marathon the following month going to take part? Is anyone running the marathon in the Olympics going to take part?

Baring a couple of specialists at cross country, you'll just end up with the 3rd choice set of people from each country who didn't make the 5km or marathon selection.



The fact that mountain running is a different discipline is totally the point though. That would give it a far better chance of being included than cross country as you'd be bringing in a new group of athletes, spectators and sponsors. There isn't anything to gain for the athletes for taking part in a cross country rather than a 10km on the track, except it's a bit more of a lottery who wins or twists an ankle and a couple more people get to go to the olympics.

If Cross-Country was put in in place of the 10000m, you'd just get many of the athletes who would have done the 10k doing it instead.

If it was added on top of the current events, you'd just get a spread of talent across 4 distance events, rather than 3, making the quality of each individual event a slight bit less.

No way would it be a B-standard event though. People would quickly look at it as a chance of a soft medal. Once everyone gets that idea you just get a flow of talent from the other disciplines into it.

You have no reason to believe that somebody would pick 10000 over the Cross Country if given the choice. The strength based runners would probably go for Cross-Country, the speed based guys the 10000m. All this will do is weaken both events as the talent will be spread across more events.

It would be good for athletes from Ireland no doubt. It would open up some extra Olympic spots.

Overall, I'm not in favour of it. Cross-Country is a winter discipline within athletics, used to develop strength ahead of the track season. Even Fionnuala said herself after winning her second Euro Cross that she is under no illusions regarding the overall relevance of the win, and that the track is ultimately where it's at (or the marathon).

robinph

If my sums are right it looks like about 40% of the field in the 10,000 also then ran in the 5,000 in Rio, obviously including the winner of both. Do you seriously think someone is going to risk a cross country race a couple of days before the track 5,000? Yes it opens the field up for some others to take part, but which is the bigger prize? Hurdling some hay bales or 5000 around the track and then finishing off the season on the diamond league circuit without a twisted ankle? The field just wouldn't be competitive, or if it is then they are stupid.

Cross country needs to be at a different time of year, or a new event in the summer olympics needs to be something that the existing 5km/ 10km/ marathon road runners don't take part in normally anyway.

Chivito550

robinph wrote: »

If my sums are right it looks like about 40% of the field in the 10,000 also then ran in the 5,000 in Rio, obviously including the winner of both. Do you seriously think someone is going to risk a cross country race a couple of days before the track 5,000? Yes it opens the field up for some others to take part, but which is the bigger prize? Hurdling some hay bales or 5000 around the track and then finishing off the season on the diamond league circuit without a twisted ankle? The field just wouldn't be competitive, or if it is then they are stupid.

Cross country needs to be at a different time of year, or a new event in the summer olympics needs to be something that the existing 5km/ 10km/ marathon road runners don't take part in normally anyway.

The 10000m qualifying standard is particularly tough, to keep the field size down, so it can be run without heats as a straight final. That’s why 40% also did the 5K. If the field was bigger then you’d have heats, and so the percentage doubling up would go down.

Cross country can facilitate a larger field than a 10000m so you won’t get that many doing both.

And as I said, anyone without a kick will try their hand at gold in the XC instead.

Both prizes are equal. Olympic gold is Olympic gold.

I hope it doesn’t happen, I don’t think it will happen, but if it did happen, it would 100% work and the fields would be strong. The naturally better XC runners will gravitate towards it.

robinph

Chivito550 wrote: »

Olympic gold is Olympic gold.

Would you rather the 100m gold or the 200m gold?

Chivito550

robinph wrote: »

Would you rather the 100m gold or the 200m gold?

100m is the blue-ribboned event because of the whole “worlds fastest man” thing (even though average speed is often higher in 200m!!).

That aside, no other track events have any more prestige than the others. I’ve never noticed more attention going to 5000 over 10000 or 800 over 1500 for example.

Anyway, cross-country will not be in the Olympics.

Working class heroes

Chivito550 wrote: »

100m is the blue-ribboned event because of the whole “worlds fastest man” thing (even though average speed is often higher in 200m!!).

That aside, no other track events have any more prestige than the others. I’ve never noticed more attention going to 5000 over 10000 or 800 over 1500 for example.

Anyway, cross-country will not be in the Olympics.

In your opinion.

average_runner

I would prefer to see the olympics drop tennis, rugby, golf and bring in Cross country and more road racing, maybe half marathon and the ultra.

Djoucer

XC on the Winter Olympics cross country course would be class.

It would be carnage and great for spectators.

Rules are there to changed.

Chivito550

average_runner wrote: »

I would prefer to see the olympics drop tennis, rugby, golf and bring in Cross country and more road racing, maybe half marathon and the ultra.

What is “the ultra”?

Working class heroes

Chivito550 wrote: »

What is “the ultra”?

The ultimate test of running ability.

average_runner

Chivito550 wrote: »

What is “the ultra”?

For you its anything over 400 metres