A few weeks ago I was told by the meet director of the KYA Invitational, Vanderbilt Indoor, and Tennessee Indoor Championships that the throwers in Tennessee are not accomplished. This was in reply to my suggestion that there be a either a limit on the number of athletes entered per team or expand the field to 24 for the weight throw just as it is in the shot put, to ensure all Tennessee athletes have an opportunity to compete. Just to make sure I was not asking for too much, I checked the field event entry limits for the meet and they range from 16-24.
Is it just me or does a lack of consistency in the allowed entries, simply not make sense. Since this is a “qualifying” meet for a state championship would it not be more competitive, to have the same number of athletes in each field event? Or from a different perspective, how about attempt to involve, attract, and support as many Tennessee Athletes as possible. Not only the ones who can travel to Johnson City. Let’s be clear, it is not a time issue. (I officiated this meet last year so 8 more participants is not a factor.) There is a proven and simple remedy for time in field events, minimum marks. Coaches, athletes, and parents understand them, everybody knows the standard. Even from a business perspective they make sense, (everybody pays, why turn away hundreds of dollars in entry fees). The facility did not put participant limits on the meet organizers. So why are the different participant limits for the field events?
Currently there are Tennessee athletes that are competing in the field events as members of the Auburn, UT Knoxville, Old Miss, Louisville, Liberty, UL Monroe, Liberty University, Belmont, Harvard, TN Tech, and Wake Forrest Track and Field teams, just to name a few. In High School these young men and women practiced for the most part, when they could where they could. They traveled long distances to compete, so now, when there is a meet that is within a reasonable distance that does not require an overnight stay, why are the field events limited? Who benefits? I am simply asking the question.
Track and Field in Tennessee is emerging, the last few HS graduating classes have produced NCAA All- Americans, Team USA members, Conference Champions, All Conference Athletes, numerous school records and some impressive GPA’s. The sport needs for barriers to increased competition to be removed, not arbitrarily built. Are we as deep talent wise as our neighboring states? Not yet, but we are making progress. So let’s think collectively how we can do more, involve more athletes not less, and offer more opportunities not fewer. Or if that is beyond us, just be consistent across the board.