British Championships 24th-26th June

[marilyn1]

I have no animus against Gemili. Dont think he is what he was, or what our resident fanboy groupies consider him to be. His so called 20.15 has
not been verified as a proper meet, with correct number of qualified officials, proper observance of start rules. Florida stuff? Wow. None of the fanboy groupies was on the track at the time,or where you visiting this track competition.?

[marilyn1]

One thought that occurred to me, on the GB men's side:

First in the rankings this year.
100m: 9.93 - only years with top ranking faster than this 1991, 1993, 1994, 2013, 2018
200m: 20.15 (with a windy 19.99) - 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
400m: 44.35 - British record
800m: 1:43.52 - 1979, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
1500m: 3:32.62 - 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1997, 2002, 2004, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
5000m: 12:57.08 - 2011, 2012

So the only years that were by this metric equal or better (at least 3 events with a faster Home ranking time) were 1988, 2013 and 2018. And given it's only June, the above lists are highly likely to get shorter in the 1500m (Monaco) and possibly the 100m, 200m and 800m.

You can definitely prove anything with stats, this is a bit of a blunt instrument and it does ignore that some of the athletes and performances being compared against were all-time greats (Christie, Coe, Cram, Farah), but the sharp end of GB men is about as good as it has ever been on average, just missing a true global star (or in an event that is showing unprecedented strength - put Wightman and Kerr 10 years ago and they're megastars).

What a load of statistical BS. Typical of Mr. Stats expert.. we all await some Brit athlete actually winning a global title or set a world record in the middle distances. Keep warm with the memories of Farah, a one off for sure.

[Sovietvest]

Just realised that MB missed Ovett off his list. Shame on him - I take back my support of his comments and am now 100% in Marilyn's corner!!!

[MysteryBrick]

Sovietvest, my sincere apologies to Ovett, the most talented and entertaining of the big 3.

As for marilyn, not sure what I'm meant to do when I caveat the post and he chooses to ignore it... The point still stands, on balance our flat track top guys are historically good, just none of them is a world bester.

[MysteryBrick]

And both Wightman and Kerr would have won a major in the 2005-2011 era, I'm reasonably happy to argue.

[marilyn1]

I wonder if UKA would be very pleased if we got very few or no medals at globals but lots of finalists and top eights. Must drop a line to Jason or the new Chair of UKA for their thoughts.Perhaps they will tell me that field events have never been our forte and actually our track stars are just as good as ever. In 1993, L'equipe famously had a great headline to say how fantastic were "Ces fabuleuses brittaniques"" when we had great world champions and record holders.. What now fanboys?😒😒

[Sovietvest]

I wonder if UKA would be very pleased if we got very few or no medals at globals but lots of finalists and top eights. Must drop a line to Jason or the new Chair of UKA for their thoughts.Perhaps they will tell me that field events have never been our forte and actually our track stars are just as good as ever. In 1993, L'equipe famously had a great headline to say how fantastic were "Ces fabuleuses brittaniques"" when we had great world champions and record holders.. What now fanboys?😒😒

UKA have prioritised medals over Top 8s for many years. That's why mediocre sprinters get funded to be part of squads and distance runners and field eventers (and their coaches) don't get the same support. The consequence is that we lack the strength in depth and good coaches in those events .. .. .. . .. as you rightly point out. I personally think if we invested more in coaching and grass roots athletics, then strength in depth would be created and then truly great athletes emerge.

[marra]

The problem with just comparing times is that improved technology, nutrition, tracks etc probably SHOULD lead to times improving. As you say MysteryBrick, that makes it something of a blunt instrument.

On the other hand, anyone comparing medal records/WR with those in the past also has to accept that athletics is a FAR more global sport than it was even in my long gone youth (the 80s). Long since passed is the domination of just the US and Europe. And it isn't because the other countries never had talent; they didn't have the opportunity. So just ranking based on medals/WRs is equally a blunt instrument.

[marilyn1]

You might think UKA ad another Mullersite would have the results today , the events and times tomorrow particularly,and things like giving the time and start lists for such events. I have never seen such unmitigated rubbish half baked crap in all my life. The prize, goes to a site which had tomorrow 25th shown with today stuffand the full semis for the women 100m completely missing. The site gives at the top of the page 24th and then 25th and 26th june. Click on today 24thand the schedule for tomorrow, comes up, sites are quite beyond all reason. The UK athletics sites are total sh*t; for example the start lists for the sprints are rubbish and in days gone by the site info and results for the Nationals were reasonable. They pay people for this🤨🤨🤨

[Occasional Hope]

No massive shocks so far, the closest to an upset is Josh Faulds taking the scalp of Chris McAlister in the first hurdles heat.

[Grassmarket]

All the hep cats are on another thread, Daddy-O

https://forum.athleticsweekly.com/forum/current-events/44302-uk-athletics-championships-manchester-2022-day-1/page2#post44342