Idiots at USATF deprive Susanna Sullivan of her dream

The problem at USATF is that there are no adults in the room. They have no one that can step in and make a decision. This is a perfect example but it happens daily. They have guidelines that the office sees as rules. Why? Because otherwise someone would be forced to make a decision. Just another example of a worthy athlete being cheated out of an opportunity.

“for decades” is right: OP you say you’re shocked by this, but you shouldn’t be, this is par for the course with that organization. USATF isn’t even close to the worst national org when it comes to filling spots at championships, the bureaucracy in some other countries is even worse. But that doesn’t mean USATF couldn’t be a lot better.

What was she going to race at World XC? Did the Women not send a full team? Looks like Morley and a supposedly glowin' Durgin didn't go? But still had 5 finishers with Kurgat, Kelati, Izzo, Buchalski and Lipari... think a full team is 4 and we wanted to send 6? Looks like if she would have beat Buchalski at USA's she would have gone.

Countries could start 6 women. If you look at the start list many countries listed and ran 6. For example, Canada sent and started 6 women, as did many other countries. The USA only started 5.

A full team is 6.

You have 4 scorers, but the additional 2 are there in case you have multiple drop-outs (which is very likely on a tough XC course in the middle of summer) and to potentially lower (or raise) the other team's scores.

Countries skimping on the number of athletes they send to world champs is one of the big reasons why athletics isn't popular. Apart from anything, is just looks amateur when you have partial teams on the starting lines.

You sound like a dude that lives in his parents basement.

We made a video clip of this segment in case you didn't want to listen to full podcast.

But our podcast has timestamps :)

podcast.letsrun.com

Wacky World XC, World Records Galore (Girma, Bol, Crouser), Fred Kerley Signs With..., USATF Indoor Controversy

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What a week. We had a crazy and marvelous World Cross Country Championships in Australia with a tough course, brutal weather, Letesenbet Gidey collapsing, greatness from Jacob Kiplimo and two USA junior medals. Then it was wo...

Link:podcast.letsrun.com/episode/9599935f/w...

Incredibly poor behavior on USATFs part. The clip about this was on the podcast was just jaw dropping. If you have not listened to it, the few minutes are probably worth your time.

Would have been really interesting if she just showed up, pushed her way onto the startline and then let USATF and world athletics on international TV explain why she couldn' run. If only Letsrun knew in advance, she could have even wore a letsrun singlet. How amazing would it be for letsrun to have paid her way, and then force USATF to cave last minute. Would have been such good publicity.

I have zero sympathy. If you want to be guaranteed a spot, be faster.

I know that my wife, kids, other family members, friends, business associates, and random strangers that I have spoken with all bring up not sending full teams to meets as to why they aren't interested in T&F or XC.

This is always a weak response. So nobody is responsible for their poor inept behavior ever? Just be the best and it all works out. Uhh no. You wouldnt be saying that if it happened to you.

Same, it's been ridiculous going out for runs since last weekend when every dang man-on-the-street sees me and wants to confront me to talk about this issue around not sending full teams to meets, demanding answers and solutions on the spot. It's even worse if I accidentally wear my Boston Marathon Celebration jacket into a sports bar, my beer gets warm because people pester me so much to talk about this.

Ha, cute.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaah she didn’t get her dreeeeeeeam of getting lapped and finishing 90th.

Literally nobody cares.