23 replies to this topic

[Trackfan]

Does anyone else think that the non-selection of Patrick Johnson in the Olympic team stinks. Patrick has done an A qualifer within the time period and should be selected. To judge his performance as somehow less worthy than Jeff Riselys one A standard in the 1500 smacks of cronyism. If you then apply this selection logic to the rest of the team how could AA have selected Lapierre for the long jump when he has only done a B qualifier if you apply the same logic of selection then Justin Merlino should have been selected for thei hurdles, Kimberly Mickle in the Javelin, Ellen Pettit in the High Jump, Jason Dudley in the Decathlon. Athletics is a sport defined by absolutes such as time, height and distance. There is no room for subjective discretion in the judgment of results in our sport, but this seems to be the policy of the current and previous athletics administrators in this country. The long term health of track and field does not prosper by making enemies of the athletes who make up our sport. By creating resentment amongst people such as Patrick and others who are shafted by the administrators in the name of personality politics then we lose the support of these people once they retire from the sport with a bitter taste in their mouth. All of these people should have been given a chance to represent their country at the Olympics as the AOC team numbers would have allowed it. Even Joshua Ross should have been given a spot as he has bettered the A standard. By being exclusive rather than inclusive AA will end up with athletes setting up an alternative administration such as the Association of Tennis Professionals did in tennis.
Athletics Australia should seek to have as many representitives at international competitions as possible. The name of the game is inclusion at as many levels of representation as possible, this is what will build the Athletics community.

[HillsAths1]

I wonder are the selectors willing to offer up their place at the Olympics so that one or more of these deserving athletes gets a spot? I suspect not.
At the end of the day the only way that there will be change is if enough people decide to stand for positions within AA, and get the changes made from within.

[HardnFast]

Selectors should field any athlete who will be competitive at the games. Time is one thing, being competitive another. Lets be honest though, Patrick would not be competitive. Every major championship interview I've seen of Patrick has him saying something like, this was a great experience or, I've learn't alot. The guy has been running enough now at an international level to know what it's all about. He simply has not delivered. Selectors should look to the future and give young stars a shot. Patrick has had his chances.

[Colsy]

Its a bummer as I have folowed Patricks progress a little, ever since I first saw him on some current affairs show about 10 years ago. His story is amazing.

[JR1500]

He has deliever though, he made the final and came 7th in the 05 world champs, in one of the hardest events on the track programe.

[Colin]

HardnFast, on Jul 31 2008, 07:06 PM, said:

Selectors should field any athlete who will be competitive at the games. Time is one thing, being competitive another. Lets be honest though, Patrick would not be competitive. ... Selectors should look to the future and give young stars a shot. Patrick has had his chances.

Whether or not he has been competitive or will be, he has qualified.

If you took the competitive analogy throughout, then there would be quite a few teams short of players... not all hockyroos nor socceroos can say they are in the top 8 in world...or the socceroos as a whole even.

Olympic Games are about participation, and not only about medals, and anyone who has fulfilled the criteria for OG, and is amongst the top three in country, should be picked, just as a team player in the hockyroos is after they have qualified.

And either way, even without OG qualification, you are allowed to send your best in a particular event.

For goodness sake are we more stingy than Equatorial Guinea?

[pocketrocket]

Yes, I agree about AA being a bit too subjective about all this. What I fail to understand is that why they would omit to have Indigenous role models in the sprints when they are pumping stacks of money into the Jump Start to London program for Indigenous Athletes. I just don't get that part of it, let alone not sending Patrick. I really thought he would have won that last appeal. Patrick has as much chance as most of the track and field team to make at least semis and provide some profile for the sport. Josh would have done well too I feel. As a coach of Indigenous Athletes, I just throw my hands up and ask why? What do I tell the kids?

PR

[sook54]

I love Patrick Johnson and he should have been picked, I think it's absolutely rotten of AA! He is a great ambassador for Australian sport already and (non-athletic) careerwise he's going to shine too - one day I hope to see him up there in DFAT (maybe even as an ambassador if that's what he wants, he's well capable). I think saying he's still learning is honest, not a sign of being second-rate! He should be proudly representing our country at the Olympics, where would the olympics be if selectors in every country only sent medal contenders ?

[cakeboy]

IMO he deserves it. He's run an A qualifier, is our national record holder in the 100m and he deserves a "lap of honour" for being a great runner for us over the years. If he is stopping a younger talent from gaining a place in Bejing then I could understand it.

Edited by cakeboy, 06 August 2008 - 09:24 PM.

[pocketrocket]

Good point cakeboy, it wasn't like he would have pushed anyone out...! It would have even been nice for him to do the 4x100m since we were ranked well inside the required top 20 in the world. Now wasn't that an interesting and unexpected decision not to send the relay team. What are they thinking!!!

C

[jdudley]

It would have been great to see the selectors put everyone in who got a 'B' qualifier especially the ones who actually won the nationals and got more than one qualifier and who had the best performance in that event for the year. Or maybe this, they put in somone like patrick who had an 'A'. Just a thought!


J Dudley

[enterthezone]

jdudley, on Sep 19 2008, 07:30 PM, said:

It would have been great to see the selectors put everyone in who got a 'B' qualifier especially the ones who actually won the nationals and got more than one qualifier and who had the best performance in that event for the year. Or maybe this, they put in somone like patrick who had an 'A'. Just a thought!


J Dudley

Jason? From Brisbane?

[jdudley]

enterthezone, on Sep 19 2008, 10:03 PM, said:

Jason? From Brisbane?

Yes thats right!

[CBs]

I think they can afford to make changes to selection criteria, well they might as well try something because what their doing isn't working that well. There's nothing to lose by giving elite athletes more international experience. Is it the just the cost or an inflexible system. CBs

[TrackRunner]

saw this guy run at gold coast last saturday and he is flying, not bad given he is nearly 40 ish

[pocketrocket]

LOVE22RUN, on Jun 23 2009, 03:41 AM, said:

saw this guy run at gold coast last saturday and he is flying, not bad given he is nearly 40 ish

He's still flying too, 10.18 I believe in perth a month ago. A qual for comm games. Go PJ!

[Conquest]

pocketrocket, on Mar 21 2010, 08:59 AM, said:

He's still flying too, 10.18 I believe in perth a month ago. A qual for comm games. Go PJ!

HMMMM not bad!

[Eagle]

PJ a 10.18 is a great run. He did have a good following wind though. I thought he was stuck in the 10.3's or slower and more than likely to get slower. To see that improvement is very pleasing.

Report here:
PJ's 10.18

Edited by Eagle, 04 April 2010 - 09:27 PM.

[Conquest]

OK run. But it amazes me that all these so called sprinters still cant break the 10 sec mark. Its good to see pat running well at his age. Yes I know he has ran 9.93. But the way that some of these guys carry on at races,anyone would think they are the worlds best. When are we ever going to see some real results? Paul Narracott ran 9.99 in the early eighties but was wind assisted. We really haven't progressed very far have we? Maybe we should throw more money into middle distance. Better results there. Or pole vault. Mr Hooker what a LEDGEND! Top bloke too!

[spectator1957]

Conquest, on Apr 5 2010, 08:24 AM, said:

OK run. But it amazes me that all these so called sprinters still cant break the 10 sec mark. Its good to see pat running well at his age. Yes I know he has ran 9.93. But the way that some of these guys carry on at races,anyone would think they are the worlds best. When are we ever going to see some real results? Paul Narracott ran 9.99 in the early eighties but was wind assisted. We really haven't progressed very far have we? Maybe we should throw more money into middle distance. Better results there. Or pole vault. Mr Hooker what a LEDGEND! Top bloke too!

Are you saying that you're not a real sprinter unless you can break 10.00s

I didn't realise we had thrown all this money at sprinters, I wonder who got it all?

[Conquest]

Yes they get well looked after. I remember running at homebush at inter-club,ready for A-grade 800m. But the one eyed officials decided to put a 60m sprint on for Matt Shirvo. So we had to wait another 40 mins past start time. Not matts fault but come on.

Yes, this is a big call but if they cant run under 10.10 then they really are second grade. Half of the Australian sprinters are show pony's!

Dont remember Darren Clarke carrying on like a prima donna!

[thomo]

Patrick is Australian Champ.

B qualify time for Commonwealth Games.

Event 112 Men 200 Metres Open
============================================================================
World Record: W 19.19 20/08/2009 Usain Bolt, USA
All Comers: A 19.92 25/02/1999 Frankie Fredericks, NAM
Meet: M 20.29 1999 Damien Marsh, QLD
National: N 20.06 16/10/1968 Peter Norman, VIC
20.65 CA
20.85 CB
Name Year Team Finals Wind Points
============================================================================
Finals
1 Patrick Johnson 72 QAS 20.78 CB 1.4
2 Aaron Rouge-Serret 88 VIS 20.82 CB 1.4
3 James Dolphin 83 NZL 20.83 1.4
4 Jacob Groth 85 NSW 20.91 1.4
5 Nicholas Boylett 86 QLD 20.97 1.4
6 Mark Ormrod 82 SASI 21.00 1.4
7 Ray Williams 88 NSW 21.17 1.4
8 Keith Sheehy 83 NSW 21.32 1.4

[DontStop]

Conquest, on Apr 5 2010, 08:24 AM, said:

OK run. But it amazes me that all these so called sprinters still cant break the 10 sec mark. Its good to see pat running well at his age. Yes I know he has ran 9.93. But the way that some of these guys carry on at races,anyone would think they are the worlds best. When are we ever going to see some real results? Paul Narracott ran 9.99 in the early eighties but was wind assisted. We really haven't progressed very far have we? Maybe we should throw more money into middle distance. Better results there. Or pole vault. Mr Hooker what a LEDGEND! Top bloke too!

I'll think you'll find the powers-that-be figured this out quite a while ago, and are concentrating heavily on technical track events (the hurdles) field events, and the jumps.

Medals are everything when it comes to funding, and it's far easier for us to turn a sprinter into a hurdler or a long-jumper of genuine top 8 standard, than it is to get that sprinter into a WC or Olympic 100m final.

Kathy Freeman, Mona and Mottram are about the only athletes we've had in the last 20 years who've medalled in a WC or Olympics in a straight running race in track & field. But we've had quite a few in the hurdles, throws and jumps.

[thomo]

I see Patrick was only selected in the 4 x 100 metres relay team.

He won the Australian Championship in a wind legal B qualifying time for Commonwealth Championships. He also has another B qualifier.

The person selected has two A qualifying and 2 B qualifying times.
A
(20.65) 20.54 Matt Davies (Q) Perth AUS 19/02/10
[20.59 Davies (Q) Sydney AUS 27/02/10]

B
(20.85) 20.74 Patrick Johnson (Q) Sydney AUS 27/02/10
[20.84 Johnson (Q) Perth AUS 19/02/10]
20.76 Matt Davies (Q) Brisbane AUS 06/02/10
[20.83 Davies (Q) Melbourne AUS 04/03/10]
20.80 Jacob Groth (N) Sydney AUS 27/02/10

For Patrick to have been automatically selected he would of had to quote AA

Quote

The Athlete who finishes in first place at the Selection Trial will be automatically selected provided that the Athlete has achieved an A Standard performance in the relevant qualifying period by the time of the selection trial.

Unfortunately he had to relay on this paragraph

Quote

Selection at the Discretion of The Selectors (Individual Events)
1. After the allocation of Pre-selection and Automatic Selection by operation of clauses F and G above, any remaining Team position in a particular event may be selected at the discretion of The Selectors following the Athletics Australia National Championships, Perth, 16-18 April 2010. This discretion is absolute and it need not be exercised.
By way of explanation of the intended operation of this Policy, if an Athlete aspiring to selection in the Team fails to qualify for selection in an individual event by way of right of performance in either the 2009 World Championships (Pre-selection) or the Selection Trial (Automatic Selection) then that Athlete’s selection in the Team is at the discretion of The Selectors.

I don't think either Matt or Patrick are in a show for the medals unless the pick up some more time. But I see am issue that Matt was selected and Patrick wasn't. Patrick is going to be there for the 4 x 100mtrs so there isn't an extra cost.