World Rankings - GBR positions

[graeme]

Its not reciprocal because only a subset of the top runners actually run in the WOC. So WOC positions don't tell you about how good the 4th 5th 6th best Swedes and Finns are,
but do tell you about how good the best South Africans and Chinese are (which the rankings don't, as they're biassed toward Europe).

Saying that "the ranking list better reflects the standings in the sport" means taking the view that beating the 4th 5th 6th best Swedes and Finns at WREs (they can run WREs more easily than WOC) is more of a test than beating the best South Africans and Chinese at WOCs (they can run WOC more easily than WREs).

Which I believe to be true. And by implication GRoss doesn't.

Graeme

[Becks]

the ranking list provides a better measure of who gets selected for the UK team than any other pre-selection race data (UK cup, UK ranking etc. British Championships)

on the other hand, those selected for the British team then get the chance to earn lots more lovely ranking points... in other words the world ranking list is skewed in favour of those who get to run world cups / woc and hence is good at predicting who gets selected.

Took the words right out of my mouth you did!

[awk]

Also, the Rankings and WOC measure different things. the first is the performance over a year whilst the second is a one-off result. It's a bit like comparing the Premiership with the FA Cup

Except, people remember Premiership winners.

[Guest]

Andrew - but I'm comparing the Rankings with the Premiership and WOC with the FA Cup!!

David