Having the WC this late is simply dumb.

[CookyMonzta]

Seoul 1988 and Sydney 2000 were held late-September to the first weekend of October. Melbourne 1956 was held mostly in December. This year's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will be held mostly in early-December in the Philippines.

I have no problem with this year's World Champs schedule; maybe the venue, where it could be hotter than hell. I want to live juuuuust long enough to see a Winter Olympics in MAY! >:-P If they go to southern Argentina (or wherever it still snows in the southern hemisphere during that month), maybe it'll happen.

[norunner]

The latter is what bothers me about it. To me, post-championship meets have always been an important part of the season. Some people (mostly distance runners) will use them to attack records while they're still in top shape. Some will want to take revenge after failing in WC/OG, or conversely, to prove their success was wel deserved. This year will be the first one in ages when we don't get that. Even in 1988, there was a meet or two in Japan post OG featuring major stars.

But it will also be the only year where this happens, despite Coe's fantasies about world championships being the last event of the year. He has no control over scheduling of Olympic Games or European championships and unless they do another "Doha", there will always be meets in September after the WCs.

[AS]

Simiyu and Kibet both out as the story now reads.

If trials had been held earlier, maybe there would have been time to get the required tests for the high placers.

Maybe Cheserek could have made the team!

[Powell]

This year will be the first one in ages when we don't get that. Even in 1988, there was a meet or two in Japan post OG featuring major stars.

Also, in 2000 the Grand Prix Final (in Doha, of all places) was after the Olympics.

[gh]

But it will also be the only year where this happens, despite Coe's fantasies about world championships being the last event of the year. He has no control over scheduling of Olympic Games or European championships and unless they do another "Doha", there will always be meets in September after the WCs.

he may have no "legal control," but he certainly has lots of power he can bring to bear.

having said that, color me as one in favor of the DL Final(s) being after the OG/WC. It's only good marketing to use the gold medalists to get the sport some added exposure in that small window while their names still mean something to Joe Sixpak

[Powell]

having said that, color me as one in favor of the DL Final(s) being after the OG/WC. It's only good marketing to use the gold medalists to get the sport some added exposure in that small window while their names still mean something to Joe Sixpak

There were many comments in Poland about the Skolimowska Memorial not attracting a big crowd this year, which it did in previous years, and the general conclusion was that it was about the timing relative to the big event of the year. More people will be motivated to come to a meet when they will see newly crowned world/ European champions, with the championships still fresh in their minds.

[norunner]

he may have no "legal control," but he certainly has lots of power he can bring to bear.

Coe is a nobody compared to Olympic Games or Football (Soccer). The EAA would never schedule European championships to clash with the European football leagues because the EAA would lose big time.

[gh]

Coe is a nobody compared to Olympic Games or Football (Soccer). The EAA would never schedule European championships to clash with the European football leagues because the EAA would lose big time.

all of which has absolutely zero with Coe's ability to bring pressure to bear regarding scheduling of track meets.

[Halfmiler2]

Hey, anything that extends the international elite T&F season has to be a good thing, right? That said, early to mid-September feels about right, as that pesky cross country is in full swing by then.

We need to set some ground-rules, at least for the USA athletes:

Jan to Mar: indoors
Apr to May: national season
June: nat'l championships
Jul to mid-August: int'l season (DLs)
late Aug: WC (every year but)/ OG
early Sep: DL finales
Sep-Nov: XC
Dec: OFF!

December is the USATF Annual Meeting and the Coaches Association Annual Meeting !