Explaining This Blog

From my first post--December 9, 2013--I've said I would have certain "rules" for inclusion (or EXclusion!) of Records and Marks in the blog.
They were stated simply & succinctly--
NO Oversize Track marks accepted!
NO 1600 & 3200 times accepted, or times converted from them!
TOTAL SEPARATION of the INdoor & OUTdoor seasons, with separate Records & separate Lists!

There were other things I mentioned, but the above were deemed most important.
A few weeks ago, this blog was "invaded" by a troll, who decided it was his purpose in life to argue the rules about "How old is too old" to set Class Records.
Long story short, I soon tired of his obnoxiousness, and deleted all his comments, then set up a "moderating" power to avoid future trolls (read: assholes!).

That said, he made me think about the very subject he attacked me with!
Actually, I've ALWAYS had some strong opinions about Age Records and Class Records.
For example, I don't do "Junior" or "Youth" or "Masters" records--I base my Age Records on an athlete's actual birthdate.
That allows, hypothetically, Athlete Z to break TWO Age Records in just 24 hours!
If he's born July 15th, he could set one Age Record on July 14th, and another (for an Age one year older) on the 15th!!
But Class Records abide by different criteria.

Most--and "most" must be the operative word!--most HS Frosh are 14 or 15 years old when they start school!
Thus, most of these same people graduate HS at either late in their 17th year, or in the first few months of their 18th year!
Rare is the person who is already 19 (or just a few short months away) when they begin their Senior year!

The "case" of Weini Kelati exposed the flaws in this rule!
She began school in the US when 17--almost 18!!--in September of 2014.
Thus, if allowed to be the "normal" student, she'd graduate when 20 and a half years old!!

T&FN has stated she is NOT eligible for HSR's or Class Records, though she can compete this spring---as a "HS Senior"--meaning it's her last year for HS competition!
In the future, she'll have to compete ONLY in open meets--unattached!!

But forget Kelati!
She's a VERY rare bird!!

As readers of this blog know, I DO list marks made by 19 year old HS'ers.
(Matthew Maton's marks from last year!)
But is it fair?
As I've stated over and over, can we really say Maton's 3:59 Mile at Age 19 was "equal to" Grant Fisher's, achieved when 17?

But this Age--Class factor doesn't just apply to HS'ers, or even College Frosh!
What about Collegians who stay in school 5--or even 6!--years?
Recently, Conor McCullough was allowed a SIXTH year of T&F eligibility!
Yes, he returned as a Collegiate "Senior" at Age 24!

Even worse is the example of Henry Rono.
T&F historians know the name well!
In 1978, when a College SOPH, he set still-standing Collegiate Records in the 3000SC and 5000 of 8:05.4 and 13:08.4.
He was then 26 years old!!

There are many other examples!
One has a different story than Rono did--who came to Washington State from Kenya.
Her name is Demi Payne.
She has OUTdoor eligibility at Stephen A Austin--as a Senior--and she turns 25 next September!
She took a year (or more?) off to have a child.
(In her return--in the 2015 INdoor season--she EXPLODED on the Collegiate Pole Vault scene like a Texas Twister!!  She in fact became WORLD Class!!)

But should her marks---She recently went over (and past!) the 16 foot barrier--TWICE!--be allowed to compete against your "average" Collegian--who is more likely, as a Senior, either 22 or JUST turned 23??

That is the ultimate question a T&F Record Book must decide!
For the immediate future, I will continue to include marks made by HS or Collegiate "elders"---but with an editorial comment attached!
I want my readers to know if someone has an Age advantage--even while I accept their marks for my Record Book (and this blog).
Same with HS'ers.

As for the "rules" mentioned earlier--about OT's & those 1600's & 3200's--I've repeated myself too many times to count!
(I've been as "obnoxious" as that troll!!)
But I found a GREAT article online earlier today, which STRENGTHENS my arguments, and I want to share some of its thoughts!
It's about OT's.

Here's the genesis of my discovery.
In recent weeks, there have been some amazing times run on OT's!
Allie Ostrander, a Boise State Freshman, ran a 5000 in 15:21+ on Seattle's 307 meter track--behind only Pro Kim Conley's 15:09+.
Today, 2 guys ran Miles in 3:53+ (!!) in the Dempsey!
Both are Collegians!
Historically, back in 2009, then-Jenny Barringer ran the fastest-ever INdoor Collegiate 5000--15:01.70--in Seattle!
Back to my genesis of thought.

I was reading (finally!!) the March issue of T&FN a few days ago!
In it is listed all the Records of T&F---using T&FN's idea of "absolute" Records!
Thus, under Women's Collegiate 5000 is Jenny's 15:01!!

Two things VERY wrong there!
That was an INdoor mark, and does NOT belong on what most readers will think is an OUTdoor record list---not really knowing, or understanding (!!) T&FN's concept of "Absolute" records!
Then, her mark was run on an OVERSIZE TRACK!!!

(There were several OTHER "errors" in that Records section I saw!!  But let's ignore those for now!  LOL)

So, upset by T&FN's "rules", I decided to investigate (aka "Google"!!  LOL), to see if I could find out WHAT the REAL rules are, regarding OT's.
(Another source of my anger is the heavy use of OT's to Qualify DMR teams for the NCAA meet!)

I found my answer immediately--in the guise of a GREAT article by "MichTrack.org"--or Michigan Track!
I don't know the date of the article--wasn't listed--but many of THEIR thoughts mirror my own!
To wit--

(paraphrased, in part)
OT's are easier to run fast times on.  It's physics.
Gentler turns & fewer of them.
(The) boom in 300 meter tracks is an American thing.  (I) don't know of any other country having any OT at this point.
NCAA Colleges control most quality T&F facilities in the US.
Football drives most college athletic spending decisions.
They build indoor training facilities that are huge--so 300 meter tracks fit well.

(continued)
NCAA Qualifying is the other part of the equation, and here's where it gets controversial. (THEIR words!--ed.)
The formula the NCAA uses is skewed--and even though the indexing is supposed to provide a level playing field for Qualifying, it actually favors OT's.
(The article was speaking toward the formula's created by the NCAA to equalize the differences between flat & banked tracks, and those of over 200 meters--OT's!)
Why else are college teams flocking to OT's for Q times?

(continued)
What you do with your school (club) records and your PR's is up to you.
On our MichTrack.org All-Time lists, OT marks are always listed by themselves!
If we mixed them in with our main lists, it would be unfair to (everyone) who ran on standard-sized tracks!

The article also stated IAAF rule 260.21(b)--
World Indoor Record tracks may not exceed 220 yards (201.2 meters).

It then said that USATF follows IAAF's rule!

In Norman Mailers great & revolutionary book "The Armies of the Night", he begins by quoting verbatim from a Time magazine article.!
He then says, in Mailer's inimitable way--Now we may leave Time in order to find out what happened.

Thus, I will dive into the Loony Bin lair of the Let's Run Forum (a fair mirror of Time, in its own way!), and quote a poster who called himself  "la la land".
Such magnificent irony!!  LOL

Anyway, it was in a thread begun February 14, 2010, and titled "OT's Aren't Fair!".
"La la land" wrote--

OT's have fewer turns.
Turns have wider radius's.
(They) reduce centrifugal forces significantly--allows the runner to run at higher speeds more efficiently.

Then "La la land" concluded---in Let's Run's own inimitable way--

Anyone who says otherwise is a liar and a scumbag!

With those words, I bid you adieu---until my next post!

P.S.  I forgot to mention that, in my Googling about OT rules, I found a LONG list of INdoor tracks in the United States--stating the track's measurements!
I mean, there were HUNDREDS listed--from Coast to Coast, in every state!!

I made a list of all the OT's.
Out of literally HUNDREDS of tracks listed, only 25 were of OT dimensions.
And they ranged from 215 meters (University of Maine Field House) to 442 meters (Utah Olympic Ice Arena).
However, most of the 25 were between the Air Force Academy's Cadet Field House's 268 meters and Notre Dame's 352 yards.

One simple question.
Why--with literally 100's of 200 meter tracks available in all 50 states--do schools bring their athletes to a HANDFUL of OT's to get Q times for Championship meets??

Just read MichTrack.org's excerpted article above for your answer!