i dont know how many races i go in, or used to go in, where its never a full blown field here.
Under 19’s at state level is normally a run as a straight final
Even opens was like just semi’s then final, bar a few events being straight final.
2 yrs ago, at the age of 31, i could even do a Pan Pacific Masters game! I went just for the fun of it. I wouldn’t say there was less competition, nor more. Some events there were heats, others straight final. Naturally, they are slower than Opens at a state level (a lot less training involved also) but the volume of competitors was the same.
I think i ran with just a couple of months of half assed training under my belt - something i wouldn’t even consider doing in a Opens race.