Canadian Youth Championships - Changes

[Steve Weiler]

Rather then take over Haller`s thread, I thought I`d start a new one where people can discuss the significant changes to the Canadian Youth Championships, specifically for distance athletes. After a quick read, there seem to be 2 main areas of change:

1-the 17 & Under distance standards are slower, much slower in some events (see Table 1)

2-the 15 & Under age group now has qualification standards, which will lead to athletes grade 9 and under chasing standards and introduce a new pressure to that age group

Also, the opposing Youth and Junior changes greatly widen the gap between qualifying standards (see Table 2)

I am very interested to hear some contructive feedback on these changes.

Table 1: Canadian Youth Standards 2009 and 2010

Canadian Youth 2009 Canadian Youth 2010
Male Female Male Female
800m 2:02.00 2:19.00 2:03.29 2:25.28
1500m 4:08.00 4:48.00 4:13.88 5:00.68
3000m 9:00.00 10:30.00 9:06.18 10:50.28
Steeple 6:45.00 7:50.00 6:45.00 7:50.00


Table 2: 2010 Canadian Youth vs. Canadian Junior Standards

Canadian Youth 2010 Canadian Junior 2010
Male Female Male Female
800m 2:03.29 2:25.28 1:55.00 2:15.00
1500m 4:13.88 5:00.68 4:00.00 4:43.00
3000m (5000m) 9:06.18 10:50.28 9:02.00 (15:40.00) 10:25.00
Steeple 6:45.00 7:50.00 6:35.00 (10:20.00) n/a


Links
Technical Package
www.ottawalions.com/legion/docs/2010_Youth_Technical_Package.pdf

Standards
www.ottawalions.com/legion/docs/2010%20Youth%20Entry%20Standards%20&%20Technical%20Info.pdf

[oldbones]

2000m steeple standards seem very weak compared to 1500/3000 and when compared to World Youth finalists ... i.e. sub 5:30 for top 3 (then again 1500m was 3:37)

[bg16]

My thinking was that the standards for Junior were faster this year because we are hosting World Juniors and this could mean that more people will want show up for Junior nats as it will be a much cheaper trip for Worlds. Just my thoughts anyways.

[bystander]

The U18 are a little easier than they might otherwise be in reference to National Juniors. Perhaps as a relatively new meet (outside of just the Legion championship) the standards will tiighten in coming years - and are they in line with the Legions standards anyway for this age group? A cursory glance says that they are close - U16 B (2.06-2.15, old 2.12); U16 G (2.22-2.40, old 2.30); U18 B (2.00-2.08, old 2.02; 4.15-4.30, old 4.20; 9.10-9.40, old 9.30; U18 G (2.20-2.30, old 2.25; 4.50-5.15, old 5.00; 10.40-11.30, old 11.15). It seems that the 3000's are a bit tougher.
Is this meet going to be perceived as a viable alternative to National Juniors, or just an additional cost for athletes considering both meets. I hope that it discourages all but the most "elite" younger athletes from attending Juniors - I think there are too many G9/10 athletes at Juniors. Making it to National Legions was often very difficult in Ontario (often just one per event), so this does provide an alternative for those desiring a higher quality meet, beyond the Provinical championship (or even an easier travel - i.e Ont. Supermeet inTimmins), for some as well. Those not quite making the Legion team can become exposed to, and meet, athletes from across the country. I have always liked the experience of the Legion meet for athletes, and while this doesn't quite replicate it, it comes close. My concern is that now there are potentially a lot of meets in the summer (Legion District, Provincial Legion, Natiional Youth/Legion, Provincial Youth and Junior, National Junior and sundry all-comers along the way), which combined with a long HS season (for some) could be too much for some - one assumes that coaches take all of this into consideration when planning a competition schedule.

I agree with tightening the Junior Men's standards - before 1994 they were as follows - 1.54.6, 4.00.0, 15.30.0, 9.44.8SC, there was also a 10000m then (36.00).
The women's standards used to be 2.16.8 ( I recall a 2.15 in earlier years), 4.40.0, 10.16.6 and 10000m(40.00). So it is getting back to where it should be again. This is more difficult perhaps for younger athletes who might otherwise go to Juniors, but now there is an easier alternative at the Youth meet.

Interestingly, the Canadian World Junior Standards were as follows (WJr in brackets):
M -1.49.80 (1.51.00); 3.44.35(3.48.00); 13.53.90(14.20.00); 29.10.65(31.00.00); No steeple?
W -2.05.86(2.07.00); 4.16.72(4.24.00); 9.10.14(9.35.00)

Maybe coaches will think about NOT sending younger athletes to National Juniors (since they often can't make the team anyway because of age) and having them chase those standards - which should be for 18/19 year olds. My fear is that since many of these are now in University, whether they will continue through the summer to compete.

Now if only OFSAA (other Provincial HS?) will adopt the LTAD and include the 300m, 1200m and 2000m in place of the 400m, 1500m and 3000m for HS midgets (G9).

[bystander]

Apr 22, 2010 10:42:49 GMT -5 bg16 said:

My thinking was that the standards for Junior were faster this year because we are hosting World Juniors and this could mean that more people will want show up for Junior nats as it will be a much cheaper trip for Worlds. Just my thoughts anyways.

This is also quite possible, to limit the number of participants. I recall a lot of guys in the 800m last year. Those additional non-time qualifiers make for some larger fields for each event.

Now if only this will happen in the Seniors - too many guys in the 800m!! Especially with the number of non-time qualifiers coming from each province.

Seniors 1993:
M - 1.50.68, 3.46.18, 14.23.14, 9.14.54SC, 30.28.13.
W - 2.09.64, 4.22.48, 9.28.22, 35.40.50
Seniors 1994:
M - 1.52.00, 3.48.50, 14.30.0, 9.27.10SC, 31.40.00
W - 2.12.50, 4.30.00, 9.53.00, 37.00.00

[hammercrazy]

I am responding in terms of field events, specifically throwing, however, it seems to me that the gap between Youth standards and Junior standards is fairly weak.

In terms of my events, it is practically identical. If you qualify for Youth, then almost certainly you also qualified for Juniors.

Is this similar in terms of track events? I haven't taken a look.

[coachc]

Apr 22, 2010 11:05:35 GMT -5 bystander said:

Now if only OFSAA (other Provincial HS?) will adopt the LTAD and include the 300m, 1200m and 2000m in place of the 400m, 1500m and 3000m for HS midgets (G9).

My hope is that the HS systems NEVER adopt this policy.

[coachfaulds]

Apr 22, 2010 12:10:44 GMT -5 coachc said:

Apr 22, 2010 11:05:35 GMT -5 bystander said:

Now if only OFSAA (other Provincial HS?) will adopt the LTAD and include the 300m, 1200m and 2000m in place of the 400m, 1500m and 3000m for HS midgets (G9).

My hope is that the HS systems NEVER adopt this policy.

I'll second that! There is no way that a high school aged kid is incapable of training for and running 1500m and 3000m races. I've seen some pretty fast times form 14 year olds over the years. This type of thinking may be valid for pre-highschoolers but let the big kids run the real thing instead of the sprints.

[xc4ever]

Thank You coach faulds it is hard enough to be good in highschool without sub 56 second speed the 3000m is a sprint goddamit compared to university