one one thousand
two one thousand
three one thousand …
While we’re on the subject…
There has been much gnashing of teeth in Canada over our results, particularly in the sprints. The claim has been made as usual about a ‘re-building phase’ etc. Well, let’s look at that premise for a minute, based on cold, hard, logical facts.
1: If you are in a re-building phase in the sprints, you start with the relays because, obviously, this is where you can make the most impact with the least individual talent.
How did we do with the talent we had vs others in the same boat?
Example
Canada 2004 Cuba 1992
Browne PB 10.11 SB 10.13 Simon PB 10.06 SB 10.34
Macro 10.03 10.21 Lamela 10.33 10.33
Henry 10.17 10.24 Isasi 10.17 10.21
Allen 10.28 10.28 Aguilara 10.27 10.38
Bobie 10.28 10.28
Average PB 10.17 Avr SB 10.23 Avr PB 10.21 Avr SB 10.32
Results…ZERO!- 7th in heat! Results OLYMPIC SILVER MEDAL 38.00
Here is a case where there WAS funding available. What was done? Of the four chosen to run, three switched coaches in the previous year and the fourth had no coach. When it came time for a relay camp, it was held in MARCH in Texas. Who’s ready then???
Now, if that’s what happens when you DO have money, let’s look at what happened with other teams. The women with potential for the 4 x 100 relay paid their OWN WAY to Modesto to assemble, as requested by the federation. AFTER they paid their own way there, Glenroy Gilbert announced to them that he would NOT enter them as a relay in the meet because there was no commitment from the hurdlers to run! With ‘friends’ like that, who needs enemies??
Now lets look at the potential there… assuming competent handling… and that means NOT by Glenroy!
Canada Colombia
Bailey PB 11.29 SB 11.29 D Murillo PB 11.35 SB 11.41
Lopes 11.47 11.47 M Murillo 11.58 11.58
Olupona 11.54 11.54 Obregon 11.69 11.69
Mensah 11.03 11.56 Palacios 11.31 12.09
Vega 11.56 11.56 Gonzales 11.54 …
Broomfield 11.57 11.57
Avr PB 11.41 Avr SB 11.50 Avr PB 11.49 Avr SB 11.69
Canada
Results NOT PERMITTED TO RUN Results 43.03
I’ll post notes on 4 x 4s when I get them
Sorry, I hit something on the keyboard and screwed up the columns and I can’t fix it!
When I go to edit, it’s still lined up but when I post it’s messed up. Heh! I don’t know how to type anyway!
Onwards with our look at Canada’s handling of relays.
Canada 4 x 400
Christopher PB 45.25 SB 45.25
Niemi 44.73 45.46
Ardill 46.11 46.11
Ringwald 46.31 46.31
Average PB 45.63 Avr SB 45.78
Australia
Steffenson PB 45.63 SB 45.63
Ormrod 45.87 45.87
Dwyer 44.73 45.64
Hill 45.16 45.16
Average PB 45.35 Avr SB 45.58
Results: Canada not permitted to go due to best result of 3:04:54 run in MARCH at the “opportunity” provided by AC!
Aussie results-- Olympic Silver 3:00:60
Shane’s 400m PB was 44.86 or 44.84. One of those, but not 44.73 (looks like the chart accidentally has Dwyer’s PB in Shanes slot).
Sorry, I was copying it down. Is the average still right?
I am not sure what Shane’s SB was this year, but the Average with Shane’s actual PB (44.86sec) is correct so I assume the other average is as well.
Excellent points, Charlie.
And imagine… this is with a gold medalist as coach!?
We have a few winter sports that the “coach” has no racing experience whatsoever in the sport. Imagine you telling Pierre Leuders (bobsleigh) how to drive a sled!? (yes, I believe you could tell him how to be faster on the start but I am talking on-ice technical people… mind blowing).
Hey, maybe I could be a brain surgen with no training in the field!?!
Heh that kinda sux, since the splits are going around any 4x100m final splits yet anyone??
There’s no fear of anyone at Athletics Canada entering the field of brain surgery!
boy did ato look like trash in the relay’s. what happened to him
Injured at the T&T trials- like everyone else there!
Here is an email I just recieved from a prominent Athletics Coach in Canada.
"Hello all athletics supporters,
We are collecting input for Athletics Canada (Pathetics Canada) to help them do their jobs. If you have any advice or input into how they should be running the show, please provide me with your thoughts. _______ and I will be compiling these thoughts into a comprehensive letter to Pathetics Canada to see if we can effect some change.
So, please take some time to help save someone’s job at Athletics Canada.
All the best,"
RE: Glenroy.
Many of the decisions regarding the 4x100m men’s team were not his (some of which he disagreed with). Much of his authority was hmmm, stepped on or rather overstepped by others (for political reasons I guess).
You can’t make excuses for his actions in Modesto. No one else was there, and, even if there was a policy to screw the girls 4 x100 relay, he could have gotten around it by having them enter as a ‘club’ team to confront the federation with a ‘fait accompli’ if they got a good result.
As for the March relay competition in Texas, I don’t know which particular idiot chose to squander the relay funds there and then!
sorry…been a few days since i been on here.
it was quoted on www.athens2004.com which was the official website for olympics. quote has gone now sorry so i cant post link… But i pretty much quoted the website word for word.
Very disappointing and nil respect for former world record holder.
never thought much of relays until i saw this one and realised how much usa stuffed it. I was surprised to see the country outside of usa in the final get blown away by crawford yet after the baton change remained pretty much level pegs…ditto for second change over… obviously camps and funding a neccesity
Since the 4x400 subject was opened i feel obliged to make a comment. THey had a chance to qualify for athens at the Harry Jerome meet. But ZERO organizeation was done, Ray Ardill WASN’T EVEN CONTACTED, and some questionable choices on who was to run was made as well as some TERRIBLE handoffs duie to zero practice. Like come on are top 3 Tyler Shane and Ray and if gary ran are deffenatly a potential medal team. Even throw in Nathan Vandenboncour who has a 46.25? and not have ringwal run a 46.31 pb then run 4 more races the following weeked 10 days before their last chance to qualify for athens.
LIKE COME ON
Never mind the assinine preparation of the players- just think for a second about what kind of plan provides the two qualification opportunities in MARCH in Texas- when everyone should be deep in the prep phase for the main season, and at the Harry Jerome meet- a meet notorious for horrible conditions and for its uniformly BAD RESULTS!
The body is supposed to be controlled by the head, not by a region found due south!
Was reading in the Globe and Mail yesterday the view from some of our illustrious sports psychologists that our athletes need more of their ‘services’. Well one thing’s for sure. If there isn’t a general outcry for the wholesale sacking of the sports bureaucracy in Canada, it’s the the PUBLIC that needs a shrink!
The official answers so far:
1: Have even more restrictive selection criteria like Sweden and Norway- as if it makes one scintilla of difference what criteria you use with the level of athlete you’ve already created with your program! For our administrative jerk-offs, who love formulas and criteria so much, I’ve made it simple.
It goes as follows:
Good program = good athletes.
Average program = average athletes
NO PROGRAM = Canadian Athletes
Say! I’ve got a better formula:
NO ATHLETES = NO BUREAUCRATS!
2:More National Training centers:
This may apply to some sports but certainly not to track and field, where there are plenty of high quality facilities but very few competent coaches, no club funds, and few athletes due to work-to-rule teachers etc.
So, with this policy, you have more Cadillacs with no drivers , no passengers, and no gas!
3: More Studies. I’m waiting for this one!! Our trusty bureaucrats will be ready for a road trip to warmer climes to ‘study’ successful programs as soon as the leaves fall- (read Australia!). Of course it will be important that they arrive refreshed from their travels- so first class all round. To ensure this, we can put our Governor General Adrian Clarkson in charge- hell, she hasn’t had a junket in several weeks.
Well, lets look at Australia. Companies, like Musashi go out and hire whole other nations to bring their fully developed athletes over to represent them at their Olympics. (The Bulgarian Weightlifting team made the jump for 1 million bucks) Canadian bureaucrats love the Aus model because it’s the only country with as much entrenched, tits-on-a-bull useless bureaucracy as Canada.
I will be back later with more mind-numbing observations whan I can stomach the experience again.