> Also, I've always felt that US Nationals should be at the first of MAY. In > addition of finishing in the top 3, in order to keep your spot on the > national team, you must compete at the 3 current US meets, Pre, Oregon > Track Classic, Palo Alto. No exceptions.
Obviously that all but eliminates collegians. And runners who don't like to race 4 weekends in a row. And anyone who, having been forced to peak 3 months before the meet that matters, decides they might actually want to train from 3 months out to 2 months out rather than race. And of course anyone who competes in an event not conducted at those three meets. And most who who peaked for indoors. And most who don't train to peak every three months (impossible to do anyway). Have nationals towards the end of July, as people have suggested before - the same time the Europeans have their nationals, during the European break. That way we can be sure our national teams will actually be in shape at worlds and Olympics. That way we can be sure our elite athletes will be well into the swing of the European season and well on heir way to being in peak form. Our emerging elite athletes will have spent the previous 3 months progressing from the relay meets to the invitationals to either European meets for a few or local and regional meets for the rest, with some spots from regionals going to nationals. We will lose some collegians in this scenario, but we will also be less likely to send people to worlds who can't stay in shape for two more monthsafter a long collegiate year. - Ed Parrot
