Week 6 Highlights: State Changes, Qualifying, Top Relays

Discrepancies in Qualifying

Now, on the topic of state, I'm going to pivot after learning something this weekend.

Qualification in Division II works like this:

-          There are 3 Sections (East, Middle, West)

-          The winner of the event in each section qualifies for state (3)

-          The next 5 are chosen at-large (best time/mark from sectional meets)

Prior to Saturday, I was under the impression it was 2-2-2 and 2 at large. In Small Division I who also has East/Middle/West the format is 4-4-4 and 4 at large.

The only classification with no at large bids is Large Division-I who has 4 sections and takes 4 from each section. Should it continue on this way into next season with the new AAA Classification? Let's consider for a minute the Girls Long Jump in Large Division I.

Section 3 currently has 15 better performances on the season than the 4^th best performance from Sections 2 and 4. The 4^th best performance from Section 3 is 2 feet and 1 inch better than the 4^th best performance from Section 4.

Jordan Stromquist is currently the 2nd ranked jumper in Section 3 but 5 inches shorter and she doesn't qualify out of her section. 

Now, I know I'm being selective with spotlighting the long jump but there's an event and a section that is like this every year. I do believe geography and sections hold value which is why I couldn't really wrap my mind around the majority of your qualifiers being at large bids as in Division II, but there is something to be said about rewarding performance and finding that balance.

Ultimately, it's up to the coaches to lobby their representatives to address these discrepancies and who knows, maybe the coaches in AAA like the Top 4 Finishers format. I'm still learning about the nuances in each division and classification and the longer I'm in this position the more I'll understand about what each prioritizes.