Who is going to JWOC???

[Safety]

if you dont think you can run to your full potential in the final you shouldnt run, especially if you are carrying an injury, you are far more likely to do yourself damage than good

If that is the case, I think there would be a lot fewer runners at all events. A lot of people run when they are not 100% fit simply because they enjoy running. I went down to the final simply because I got the chance to and it would be one of my biggest achievements as I obviosusly was not going to get picked for JWOC.

It'll be very intresting. How many are the selctors allowed to select on merit - i was told only 2, which means one of scot, oleg or dan wouldn't go (ridiculous)
Is this true?

I don't think that any strict rules like that can be placed on selection. People should be picked on their ability to perform on they day they are selected for. If all 3 would be in the best 6 on the day then all 3 would go, however if an injury would impead their prospects, then someone who is more likely to do better should be picked ahead of them and I'm sorry if some of my friends don't get to go because of this. If it was entirely a case of who is in the best current form, then some more of the 18's should be in there, however, rhys has been running well all season as proven by 1st place in the fcc overall. so shouldn't he be up in the squad? Should the team be picked on consistancy or one race?

In the end it is the selectors decision to make and only the selectors can make it. They are in the best position to be in (if the hardest), and i'm sure will pick the strongest team they can and this decision shouldn't be argued over, because in the end some people will be very disappointed.

[Wattok]

JWOC team can be found here.
Well done to everybody selected.

[EriOL]

Stupid foreigner question:

What exacty is the "fitness test"? Is it Soviet style tests like "run 5k in 15 minutes" or just a medical exam?

[brooner]

well, probably a mixture of both. All 4 missed the main selection races through injury.

[bolder]

Has a difficult precedent been set this year by 3 men being selected who couldn't run in the final?
Does it mean that less emphasis will be placed on FCC final results in the future and more of known or possible form taken into account?

[J.Tullster]

I think they must have taken into account this years exceptional circumstances...i.e. 4 people who were almost certainties for the team injured for FCC final, and hopefully that unlucky situation won't be happening every year.

[Becks]

I must say I'm certainly finding it hard to grasp that almost a third (Scotia counts as a half racer due to his good results before the injury) of the team is running despite having no known form for this season. Let's hope the choices are justified.

[Kitch]

Becks
a third of the team is not running JWOC yet
- they have to prove fitness before they go to JWOC. Dates for this will be set for each athlete.

Basically the selectors have opted to give more time before the team is finalised.

[brooner]

no known form???

wouldn't go that far, the only person who hasn't had any results this year is mhairi.

oleg was top junior at busa (well, after scott), 3rd at jok, 2nd at trossachs & 2nd at jk. dan was 4th at jok & trossachs - ok a long time ago now, but theres still 2 months till jwoc.

[Becks]

Becks
a third of the team is not running JWOC yet
- they have to prove fitness before they go to JWOC. Dates for this will be set for each athlete.

Basically the selectors have opted to give more time before the team is finalised.

I understand this and I think that's the right thing to do in at least two of the situations. But there is more to O then just the fitness as we all know. I feel bad for the guys who are reserves having run good races all season, having to keep on training and act as understudies for these guys, that's all.

[harry]

I think especially when you are breaking into the team for the first time you have to really make the selectors pick you. Duncan, James and Matthew did this. If you don't get top 3s in the selection races then you are borderline and can't rely on them picking you.

If these people really were aiming for JWOC then they would have known who might be in contention. They didn't do enough. The best possible team deserves the chance to get there. Mhairi won't go if her and her physio don't think she can do herself justice. And if she can then she will do better than most of the team.

Acting as understudies doesn't sound great but how about getting picked by default due to someone else's misfortune?

[Scotia]

OOH AAH GBRRRR!

Well done to everyone!





Becky, go study!

[Supersaint]

hopefully it won't get to this, but what happens if all 3 guys don't pass the fitness test - is there a 3rd reserve?

anyway, as brooner said, only 1 of the 4 haven't raced this year, and i'm pretty certain that if mhairi is fit enough to run then she will do very well.

it's good to see a team going to european youth champs again, gb don't normally send a team to this, but it's a good event with some decent competition. this is a decent step between home internationals and jwoc.

[Klebe]

When are the European youth champs ?? Anyone know if there is a website for it

[Lard]

23-26 June in Czech republic.

website: http://www.eyoc2005.com/

Well done to those picked. It's a mini JWOC for the Eastern Europeans.

It's a head start to JWOC participation for our guys.

Lard