So Athletics New Zealand is up to their old dirty discriminatory tricks again. They have left Jake out of the 4 man New Zealand team for the World Half Marathon Champs even though he has run over a minute faster this season than any of the other runners. Athletics NZ, you are an absolute joke.
So Athletics New Zealand is up to their old dirty discriminatory tricks again. They have left Jake out of the 4 man New Zealand team for the World Half Marathon Champs even though he has run over a minute faster this season than any of the other runners. Athletics NZ, you are an absolute joke.
I've had a couple messages from a friend who coaches in Rotorua about this. The national half marathon championship was used as a selection race. Jake didn't run. There were other ways to be selected, Michael Voss was the only athlete selected from that race. But to be selected a runner had to "indicate interest" by July 2 and Jake did not do that. I'm not a huge fan of ANZ either but it's a bit much to complain about not being picked for a team you didn't tell the selectors you were interested in being part of.
So Athletics New Zealand is up to their old dirty discriminatory tricks again. They have left Jake out of the 4 man New Zealand team for the World Half Marathon Champs even though he has run over a minute faster this season than any of the other runners. Athletics NZ, you are an absolute joke.
I've had a couple messages from a friend who coaches in Rotorua about this. The national half marathon championship was used as a selection race. Jake didn't run. There were other ways to be selected, Michael Voss was the only athlete selected from that race. But to be selected a runner had to "indicate interest" by July 2 and Jake did not do that. I'm not a huge fan of ANZ either but it's a bit much to complain about not being picked for a team you didn't tell the selectors you were interested in being part of.
Fair enough but am I missing something by not suggesting that ANZ might have had the initiative to contact Jake in Kenya to ascertain his interest. I mean, everyone knows he is a long time resident of Iten, Kenya, and it would not be that hard to track him down there? Now with electronics, no one is uncontactable. Jake is also full on Instagram.
They, ANZ have just missed out on their chance to select the best team. I imagine most of the other runners from NZ are in the 1:03:00 to 1:05:00 range. Good running but very far from monster elites, of which Jake is part of.
I've had a couple messages from a friend who coaches in Rotorua about this. The national half marathon championship was used as a selection race. Jake didn't run. There were other ways to be selected, Michael Voss was the only athlete selected from that race. But to be selected a runner had to "indicate interest" by July 2 and Jake did not do that. I'm not a huge fan of ANZ either but it's a bit much to complain about not being picked for a team you didn't tell the selectors you were interested in being part of.
Fair enough but am I missing something by not suggesting that ANZ might have had the initiative to contact Jake in Kenya to ascertain his interest. I mean, everyone knows he is a long time resident of Iten, Kenya, and it would not be that hard to track him down there? Now with electronics, no one is uncontactable. Jake is also full on Instagram.
They, ANZ have just missed out on their chance to select the best team. I imagine most of the other runners from NZ are in the 1:03:00 to 1:05:00 range. Good running but very far from monster elites, of which Jake is part of.
That's one way to look at it. But if I wanted to be selected for a race why wouldn't I make sure the people picking the team knew I wanted that? And if that was the case I'd be mad at myself for not doing what I needed to do. I wouldn't go on a rant for not being picked.
So Athletics New Zealand is up to their old dirty discriminatory tricks again. They have left Jake out of the 4 man New Zealand team for the World Half Marathon Champs even though he has run over a minute faster this season than any of the other runners. Athletics NZ, you are an absolute joke.
Please state facts, 1, he didn’t nominate 2, he can’t even get his whining Insta post right he is actually almost 3 minutes faster than next runner Cam Avery. Too lazy to fill in a form, too lazy to research his facts and an arrogant prick just like his twin. The 4 that are going all work full time good luck to them. Kia Kaha
So Athletics New Zealand is up to their old dirty discriminatory tricks again. They have left Jake out of the 4 man New Zealand team for the World Half Marathon Champs even though he has run over a minute faster this season than any of the other runners. Athletics NZ, you are an absolute joke.
Please state facts, 1, he didn’t nominate 2, he can’t even get his whining Insta post right he is actually almost 3 minutes faster than next runner Cam Avery. Too lazy to fill in a form, too lazy to research his facts and an arrogant prick just like his twin. The 4 that are going all work full time good luck to them. Kia Kaha
Cam Avery is a 3:53 (1500), 8:06, 14:00, 29:14, 1:02:50 runner, and I think 13:59 or similar indoors. Very good for a working man, but I'm surprised NZ does not have guys in the 1:01:00-1:02:00 range. I think Ireland is now stronger than NZ in distance running. Ireland have plenty of sub 14:00/29:00 runners -NZ very few.
Not a diss, just observing. Go Kiwis!
I agree about some of the things that were mentioned about Jake's character but let's not ignore the fact that he would have been the best representative for New Zealand in the half marathon so sometimes in sports or often in sports performance trumps personal qualities.
In addition : this is an "Athlete Funded" event. The guys and girls picked have to come up with total costs. All signed an EOI. Doubt if Mr Robertson would pay his way there. No need to bad mouth AthleticsNZ on this one >>> BTW: The guy who won the National Title works full time Building houses. All the others selected also full time employed or employers !!!
In addition : this is an "Athlete Funded" event. The guys and girls picked have to come up with total costs. All signed an EOI. Doubt if Mr Robertson would pay his way there. No need to bad mouth AthleticsNZ on this one >>> BTW: The guy who won the National Title works full time Building houses. All the others selected also full time employed or employers !!!
Absolutely agree on both ANZ and distance running FB I have argued about athletes having to pay to go to world juniors, world cross etc. haven’t bad mouthed ANZ on this one 100% jake in the wrong
In addition : this is an "Athlete Funded" event. The guys and girls picked have to come up with total costs. All signed an EOI. Doubt if Mr Robertson would pay his way there. No need to bad mouth AthleticsNZ on this one >>> BTW: The guy who won the National Title works full time Building houses. All the others selected also full time employed or employers !!!
Why do you doubt he would pay his way there compared to any of the other NZ athletes? He’s competed in several races over the last 12 months in various countries around the world and is unattached so he would most likely have had to pay his way to those events too.
So Athletics New Zealand is up to their old dirty discriminatory tricks again. They have left Jake out of the 4 man New Zealand team for the World Half Marathon Champs even though he has run over a minute faster this season than any of the other runners. Athletics NZ, you are an absolute joke.
Please state facts, 1, he didn’t nominate 2, he can’t even get his whining Insta post right he is actually almost 3 minutes faster than next runner Cam Avery. Too lazy to fill in a form, too lazy to research his facts and an arrogant prick just like his twin. The 4 that are going all work full time good luck to them. Kia Kaha
If Athletics NZ had their act together and actually wanted their top athletes to do well in international competition you would expect them to be keeping in regular contact with these athletes and keeping them well informed on all the requirements to be selected - would a zoom catch up call with their top athletes every other month or so be too much to ask for? It sounds like a very broken system to me. Either that or they only communicate regularly with their “favourites” and not their best performers. Just look at the case with Gus Nketia who was by far NZs top sprinter. It was an absolute disgrace the way they treated him.
This post was edited 9 minutes after it was posted.