Ask Yourself Why … by NORRIE WILLIAMSON
ASK YOURSELF WHY …
Ask Yourself Why … by NORRIE WILLIAMSON
Chasing the Points
A
year down the road and there are an insignificant number of local races that have enrolled for the World Athletics ranking system . This system ‘ rates ’ the performance of athletes over any road distance , from 5km to the marathon , on the basis of a points table that relates to a performance and time . The simple explanation is that the top score is allocated to a World Record for a given distance , and then points are deducted for each second and minute slower . That said , the starting threshold for points for each distance is that of a good club runner , so is still applicable in the vast majority of SA ’ s nearly 600 road races .
Reason for Ranking Points
Taking the average of two or three performances allows athletes to be ranked in their specialist distance , and this impacts on their ability to seek invites to races , and what they can ask for appearance fees . The top echelon of athletes are designated as Platinum Label athletes , with Gold Label the next level , and then Elite . Race organisers of over 270 Label races around the world are obliged to invite a number of Label athletes of similar Label status to their event .
The ranking points determine the level of the athlete , and already this year there is a shortage of Gold level athletes compared with the number of Gold Label events , and this in turn makes it possible for these athletes to be more selective of the events they agree to compete in . It also means they have better negotiating power when it comes to the amount of appearance fee monies they are offered ! ( The current situation is such that organisers are being allowed to substitute two Eliteranked athletes for one of their required Gold Label athletes .)
Path to Qualification
The other major purpose of athlete ranking is qualification and selection to either the World Championships or Olympic Games . For example , the Olympic Marathon in Paris this year will have only 80 starting places , and 50 % ( i . e . 40 ) will be decided from the top 40 ranked athletes in the world . Now , in marathon terms , Ethiopia and Kenya dominate the top 100 places and deeper , but only three athletes from each country may enter , so once those three slots per country have been approved , the remaining athletes from those countries no longer count , and the selection moves
African athletes , and South Africans in particular , are missing out compared to their US and European counterparts , simply because national federations and race organisers have not yet come to terms with the World Athletics ranking system for road races , which was introduced in January 2023 .
down the rankings until the 40th place of ranked athletes is filled . At the end of January , this meant that 40th place was around 125th in the world ranking . The remaining 40 athletes for Paris will be selected by national federations , providing the athletes have met the minimum qualifying criteria , which is 2:08:10 for men , and 2:26:50 for women .
Clearly then , it is beneficial to make the top 40 rankings , and that can only be achieved through competition in ranking races , but in January , there were minimal ranking events in Africa . This means that not only do the better athletes need to travel intercontinentally to earn the necessary points , but also that runners beginning their careers , who have yet to achieve a Label status that will see them invited to races , now have to pay their own way to get the opportunity of earning those points .
By comparison , their European and American counterparts are rarely more than a few hours by train journey , or a two-hour flight , from a ranking race that allows them to climb the ladder to better earnings and automatic selection . While the top African athletes are highly sought after by the rest of the world ’ s events , the up-and-coming are often unable to make their mark due to a lack of ranking opportunities on home soil , or nearby .
Another consideration is that we now have World Road Running Championships at 1 mile , 5km , 21km and the marathon , and the rankings for 5km and 10km also contribute to the eligibility of athletes in 5000m and 10000m events on the track . So , there is every reason why those guiding the sport should be prompting organisers to enrol and promote their events as ranking events .
Easy to Become a Ranking Race
Becoming a ranking race should be easy , and theoretically it is , as the criteria are fairly simple . The race must be on the World Athletics global calendar , and that requires ( second criterion ) that the race is sanctioned by the national federation , which in turn implies technical oversight and credible timing of results . The third criterion is that the distance is measured and certified by a World Athletics-qualified measurer ( A or B grade ).
The points system is not just for the top elites , but does really help them
52 ISSUE 166 | www . modernathlete . co . za