I have lots of issues with how the sport of track and field is run in the United States. Issues that I will be discussing during this upcoming winter in hopes of inspiring change. One thing that I do think we get right however, is the proliferation of relay events in the spring!
Relays are potentially the most exciting events in the sport. With multiple individuals involved, they are the events with the most change occurring during the race itself. Relays also add a “team” dynamic to the sport, enhancing school, regional, and even national pride in the sport. Look no further than the World Championships and Olympic relay events, and the excitement that they invoke! Relays also provide a hidden benefit, as they get star athletes to compete, which gives the fans more opportunities to see the best of our sport compete. While most stars are careful about when and where they run individuals races, relays allow them to compete without the risk of running a poor race or losing in their individual events until they’re ready based on their chosen schedule. As a matter of fact, relays allow for the opportunity to test fitness levels without incurring those risks. So to that end, I would like to see a couple of things happen on the global stage.
One, I would like to see more relay events in global championships. Not by adding “mixed” events, which I think most people find ridiculous at this point, based on social media posts, but by adding actual events. My preference would be adding the Distance Medley (800, 400, 1200, 1600), 4 x 800, and shuttle hurdle, as doing so would get distance runners and hurdlers involved in the fun. These races would also add more excitement to the end of a championship competition, which by the way is where these races belong, not at the beginning where they tax individuals prior to their individual events! Yes, that’s a shot at the mixed relays! Also, if the championship is going to end the season, adding these events takes away nothing from the athletes competitive schedule, because it’s over. While providing one last race to both entertain fans and show excellence.
I would also like to see the fields expanded for the relays. If you want to see more nations involved, simply expand the field. We could easily go from 16 squads to 24. No need to change the number of rounds, we just go from a two heat semifinal, to a three heat semifinal. Adding a bit more drama to qualifying for
the final. You could either go to a straight first three in each heat qualify, or to a first two in each heat, and the fastest three non auto qualifiers! Now you’ve got some drama.
Finally, I would change the qualifying for the championships. I do like using the World Relays, but only for the top eight teams. I would establish a set of relay meets throughout the season, where the other sixteen spots are earned on time basis! World Athletics could designate one of the existing US relay meets as a “global qualifier”, meaning that marks made in that meet qualify for entry into Worlds or Olympics for national squads. Then establish say another meet on each continent as a global qualifier. For example, I would establish relay meets in let’s say, Melbourne, Nairobi, Nassau, Cali, Rome, and Shanghai, along with let’s say the MtSAC Relays in the US. That’s eight opportunities, including the World Relays, to get qualifying marks throughout the year. This would get Federations across the globe involved, which also gives fans worldwide an opportunity to see world class relays. At the same time it presents several opportunities for relay squads to both practice in live situations, and reach qualifying marks, with a variety of locations making it more accessible. Imagine as we get close to the cut off date, just how competitive these meets would be! There’s no need to run “rounds”, just heats, since this is time based qualifying. Depending on entries, you could have an event with several world class relay squads in attendance seriously trying to gain entry into the World Championships or Olymoics! Now THAT could spice up a meet and the season withnine world class relay meets for fans to enjoy. Throw in either television or streaming, and we’ve given fans a real treat! This is how you grow exposure to the sport.