Maybe this question has been addressed or maybe its out of the question but I do have a slight suggestion about qualifying for the state meet. What do you guys (and gals) think about letting the region champion have an automatic bid to the state meet and then take the next 4 to sectionals to figure out the rest of the field. I honestly think that region champions should be rewarded. especially in terms of relays. there could easily be a dropped baton that could ruin a teams chances. Let me know what you guys think.
I like it - especially since those in a tough region/section may need to max out 3 weeks in a row (see 5-AAA boys 800/1600, 5-AAAAA girls 1600). However, the problem is this potentially takes away two spots from more deserving competitors (if there are two very weak regions and two very strong regions, which is fairly common). At least one region champ would be getting a spot he/she would not have earned in most events.
I would prefer it if we could combine the boys/girls meets and have ALL state meets the 2nd weekend in May, with all Sectionals two weeks prior.
Sectionals as they are, is a great way to qualify. Region champs aren't all the time that good.
Example from this year:
I coach a PV girl (...very nice kid...) who won her Region at 7-0. She no-heighted at Section (Starting ht: 7-0). With the automatic bid plan, she would have got to go to State and we would have left an 8-6 at home.
I [i]really [i]like the Sectional idea. We really do have the best kids at State, now.
The sectionals solved a big problem that we had previously but giving Region Champs an automatic to the State meet gets us back the the problem that existed before the sectionals. Competition is always the best method for getting the cream of the crop and as I coach I would want my team to compete against the best as oftne as possible at the end of the season. If a baton gets dropped or an athlete no heights or any of the other scenarios that occurred at the sectionals thats they way it should be. Let the competition speak to who can rise up and compete.
Georgia Track and Field is moving in the right direction, however, there is more room to grow.
I agree that that boys and girls meets need to be combined for region, sectionals, and state.
After reviewing the results for the girls meet, I strongly believe that after combining the boys
and girls meet, one more meet should be added to take the top 4 or 5 from each group (A - AAAAA)
championship to compete at a Meet of Champions, therefore, establishing a definitive state Champion
versus the 5 State Champs that GA currently has. I suggest the meet can alternate every year or
every two years between the current sights or choose new venues for the athletes to compete. By
combining the boys and girls meets based on the current schedule and adding a Meet of Champions the
season will conclude at the same time.
If we move to different sites for different classifications, a meet of champions would be fun, it doesn't have to sanctioned by GHSA, they can run unattached. You don't even need a multiple day meet. Just take the state champ from each class and the next 10 best times. The 800, 1600, and 3200 can be one heat. The 100, 100/110H, and 200 can do prelims in the morning and finals in the evening, that's what the olympics does. the 400, 300H, and 4x100 can do two heats by time like NCAA indoors. The only event I see there being trouble is the 4x400. So maybe only take 12 teams in that and do two alleys on the first lap. You might want to do the same for the 800 as well.
What's stopping us from doing this? If we start doing this the weekend after the last state meet unofficially and it's a success with most people participating wouldn't that be proof enough for GHSA to start sanctioning it?
here's a potential schedule:
10:00 - 100m dash prelims
10:30 - 1600m run
11:00 - 100/110H prelims
11:30 - 200m dash prelims
12:00 - 2:00 First round of field events
2:00 - 4:00 Secound round of field events
(Pole Vault should probably start at 10:00)
4:30 - 4x100m (2 heats. slow, then fast. Best time wins)
5:10 - 400m (2 heats. slow, then fast. Best time wins)
5:40 - 100m dash Finals
6:00 - 100/110H Finals
6:20 - 800m
6:40 - 200m Finals
7:00 - 300H Finals
7:20 - 3200m
8:00 - 4x400m (2 heats. Slow, then fast. Best time wins)
The biggest challenge would of course be for any superstar sprinters that qualify in say the 100, 200, 4x100 and do field events. They would be pretty tired. So let them scratch from one if they want and let the next kid in. Plus, if we get GHSA on board then we could expand it to a 2 day meet so those kids wouldn't have to choose. But anybody see something horribly wrong with this?
@spxcoachrm
This meet goes one step further and combines the best from 3 states. Take a look at the times and you will see this format appeals to kids and fans alike.
The mid west meet of champions has lasted for over 30 years so the format is proven and easily duplicated.
So the question becomes why has MWMOC lasted so long when other all star meets here in Georgia have only lasted a couple of years before folding the tent. It starts with a strong organizing body.
