14 replies to this topic

[forestgump]

Is it true that since the AIS has closed its sprints program Patrick Johnson has moved to Brisbane to train ?

[thecheersquad]

.....

Edited by thecheersquad, 22 December 2008 - 03:47 PM.

[thecheersquad]

Did anyone else read the news item on -Nov 1: Opinion : We've done our dash (Australian men's sprinting)

Edited by thecheersquad, 22 December 2008 - 03:48 PM.

[Colin]

thecheersquad, on Nov 6 2008, 08:08 AM, said:

And I know only 2 people will read this because cool running likes the distance stuff, but even distance runners need a bit of speed at the end of a race - sprint training might be good for you guys too!

Feel your pain, AA has abandoned road running too...they call it 'recreational running' on their website.

...but only another 2 people are interested in that, so we have 4 altogether CR is only about ultras and non-running stuff actually

[Kato]

Colin, on Nov 6 2008, 08:34 AM, said:

Feel your pain, AA has abandoned road running too...they call it 'recreational running' on their website.

...but only another 2 people are interested in that, so we have 4 altogether CR is only about ultras and non-running stuff actually

Dare I paraphrase (and read the mind of AA)...

CR is only about ultras and other non-running stuff actually

[thecheersquad]

Maybe with 2 replies - that is my quota....but hey the snow balling at the top of the hill, maybe it will build up?

Edited by thecheersquad, 22 December 2008 - 03:48 PM.

[DrJH]

The situation for sprinting, road running and everything in between seems to be deteriorating. I think AA needs somebody with vision to bring together road running, Little A's, schools and large fun runs. At present we have various disparate groups involved in 'running' with very little overlap. If more people were to embrace the various branches of athletics the whole would become stronger. However, those that like being involved in organisational activities aren't necessarily those with the best ideas and vice versa.

Hence we have road running being branded 'recreational' and elite sprint programs being wound up.

[Colin]

thecheersquad, on Nov 6 2008, 11:16 AM, said:

I presume no one will read this as I have my audience of two already......bring back athleticoz website - at least they talked about track and field stuff !

Don't be so negative... the next reply is probably worth 102, because there are very few around with DrJH's experience and longevity in the T&F, road, X-country arena.

..and hey DrJH, that was a great reply in the lame thread too...thought I would say it here...kind of don't want to go there unnecessarily and feed the monster.

[CoolRunning Admin]

cheersquad - I have split the thread and renamed it - I think you'll get a better response that way. Tucked on the bottom of "patrick johnson" after the olympics is past is a one way ticket to a dead end. Sorry about the lack of track and field - bring some mates over and kick it off.

Some news here:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story...7-16143,00.html

At the Beijing Olympics. where Usain Bolt became a global star with his all-conquering sprint performances, there were no Australians to cheer in either the men's or women's 100m and 200m, or the sprint relays.

It was the first time in 28 years, since the 1980 Olympics, that Australia did not have a competitor in the men's sprints.

But rather than mounting an all-out effort to boost sprint stocks, Athletics Australia is taking the attitude that the sprints may be simply too hard - especially for a largely white population.

AA, chronically short of money and without a major sponsor for the past year, recently told Hallam it would end funding for his role as head of the national sprints program. And for the first time in more than 10 years, there will be no sprinters on scholarship in Canberra after Johnson, Daniel Batman and Miller all either lost their funding or retired.

On recent results, they probably did not warrant ongoing support, but long-time coaches are worried about the lack of will to foster the next sprint generation. AA chief executive Danny Corcoran signalled yesterday sprinting was no longer a priority and the focus would be on more technical events, where Australia is strong.

"The general feeling is that on the world stage it is a very tough event to have an individual sprinter at 100 or 200 metres. We haven't had an individual finalist for a long time ... there hasn't been a (good) white sprinter for a very, very long time," Corcoran said. "We are looking at competing in events where we can win medals. There is no secret the walks is an event we can target, pole vault is an event we can target, the hurdles, short and long (100m, 110m and 400m), we can target because they are technical events."

Corcoran says AA will back a relay program - a turnaround given it did not send a men's 4x100m relay team to Beijing even though Australia had qualified to go.

But AA's attitude to the sprints has been met with disquiet.

"I don't agree it is right to write off a whole group of events," said Tudor Bidder, athletics performance manager at the AIS.

"You can concentrate your efforts into certain events, but you should never shut the door on somebody coming from left or right of that.

"There is nothing to say a great sprinter can't come along, provided the environment is there. And what we should be trying to do is create the environment."

Kevin

[thecheersquad]

Thanks admin guy! Just learning this thing and thinking I should keep my fingers off the key board. And thanks to others on this thread.

Edited by thecheersquad, 22 December 2008 - 03:50 PM.

[aoz]

thecheersquad, on Nov 6 2008, 10:16 AM, said:

I presume no one will read this as I have my audience of two already......bring back athleticoz website - at least they talked about track and field stuff !

Cheersquad - athleticoz.com is back, totally rebuilt and still needing work though, so go help out!

[thecheersquad]

Edited by thecheersquad, 22 December 2008 - 03:51 PM.

[southy]

"... CR is only about ultras and non-running stuff actually"

Not true actually. There are middle distance, track & cross country runners & coaches who frequent this site as well.

But I do feel that we are a minority group!

There is no faster way to kill a thread on this site than to mention adding a a bit of speed work.

[FakePlasticTrees]

Hmm, only just noticed this thread. This seems to another one of those "if we aren't going to win gold or silver why even bother" things. The AA or the AOC or somebody is only interested in beating the UK on the leaderboard and to hell with developing potential talent. As a recreational runner who normally does care about track stuff this still pisses me off.

Quote

There is no faster way to kill a thread on this site than to mention adding a a bit of speed work.

There are faster ways, but on the whole most people aren't against speed work. It's just that aerobic training has to be done first and some people don't progress to the next step

[TrackRunner]

crazy