Jeff Taylor...is the man

[Guest kenwoodrun]

More interesting points, and thorns in the side of the auto qualifying standard that I can't defend. It is definitely valid to reason that if somebody's third in a region, they are likely no better than 3rd at state, and so individual championships are very likely not at risk. But the team race can be shaped and molded by the "nickel and dime" points, marginal athletes who scrap some points. There are a lot of regional 3rd placers who'd score modest points at state given the opportunity. I guess my gut feeling on this is that whatever system penalizes the kids the least is the best one, even with its flaws...what system that is, I'm not quite sure...I have a feeling it would allow for more than 8 athletes in a final if they merited being there.

What's funny about TN is the double standard we are already treading on...we allow 4 "wild-card" entries in the decathlon/pentathlon, making 8+4=12 state qualifiers in that event. And the other variables (weather conditions, level of competition) are just as much in play there as they are in our traditional sectionals. East Tennessee's boys have benefited from this, as they are traditionally a little stronger than the rest of the state in the decathlon. I wonder how TSSAA justifies "wild cards" here, but not anywhere else. If we could get a 4x200 "wild-card", I've got an extra relay in the state meet for the past four years (ha ha). It's an interesting thing to think about...flaws and all.

[Primo521]

Actually thought I'd point out that Farragut only has one miler under 4:20, then two more right around 4:30 or so. In their region, however, there were two 4:25 milers that didn't even compete in the sectional meet because they knew their chances of qualifying ahead of Baksa and Miller were slim to none, so they both ran on their teams' 4x800 relays that went 1-2 at state (their splits are fast enough to place in the open 800 at state, but couldn't qualify because 1:56 got 2nd, with the top two guys being fresh and not running in the 4x800), despite the fact that they could have gone 3-4 at state in the mile. Also, Nate Jansen of Farragut could have easily gotten 3rd at state in the 3200, he could have easily gotten 2nd at the regional meet had he known Miller would die and hadn't given up early. Either way there should be some way to include these deserving athletes in their respective events.