Epic Failure

That's why I said it is partially their fault. But the qualifying system also has given us a place for Japan (who are about 6th on the Challenger circuit) and Uruguay (who are at least winning the Challenger circuit at the moment). Both RSA and GBR would expect to beat those two sides 99 times out of 100. It is what it is. It's just an example of increased continental representation ahead of the best ranked teams. It's not the only sport which has made that choice. In some sports where there are much bigger quotas it is less noticeable but when you have only 12 teams in total it's more obvious.

No rest for Gabby Thomas then!

She was 9.92 on the anchor leg yesterday. I'm always a bit skeptical about the accuracy sprint relay splits. But there's no doubt that she's looked good.

Nevermind, replay looked okay. Just. Hunt's backstraight looked good.

Hmm, I'd like to see the final British changeover there. Looked close.

Zambia have a 2:59.12 showing from earlier this year. Netherlands are just outside 3 mins at the moment but were 2:57 in Tokyo. I'd still want to be in France's shoes but it's not a complete given yet.

Adeleke and Mawdsley both looked great. Mawdsley keeping on pace with Bol is impressive.

It *should* be. You'd obviously make them the strong favourites for that spot. But it would be risky to chance it by not taking a team to ensure it.

That was the federation's decision to do that though. Again, plenty of other countries chose to double up some of their athletes.

and both will have to go all guns blazing in Rome to get a timed place.

They are a strong position to take a timed place still.

In fairness several other countries doubled up athletes. The one change rule is to try to prevent the same countries winning it all the time. If the US can change out all 4 each time it gives them a huge advantage. Frankly, I'd be okay with limiting the number of changes that can be made in the men's/women's events as well. Maybe 2 changes between heat and final. I'd maybe change it to being 1 change per gender in the mixed though.

Some fine use of elbows by the there...

The countries looking for a timed qualification are praying that get the job done here.

, , currently leading the timing rankings I think.

Fahnbulleh and Matadi would already have been there individually but now they get to take teammates.

Thanks to the the men's 4x400m team, are officially the first country to qualify all 5 teams to Paris. Yay technicalities!

Not according to the competition information. It doesn't mention the final, just talks about after the first round. In section 4 it says the following: This does not apply to the mixed 4x400m relay where a maximum of 6 athletes (3 men and 3 women) may be entered with only one substitution allowed after the first round. All that being said, I wouldn't be reading too much into some of these docs. We saw in round 1 a bunch of athletes who were not on the entry list who took part in the mixed and others who were on the mixed entry list who took part in the individual. So I'd retain a healthy skepticism of anything official.

There's European, Oceanian and African Championships before the end of the qualification period I think. Although if the WA calendar is correct the African Champs don't seem to have a mixed 4x4 scheduled. Which is...a choice. And that's assuming national associations don't host a race if they think they are in with a shout. That often happens.

Adding Singapore's results to the table 3rd 6th 10th 12th Okay, I'm slightly less defeatist about after this weekend. They thumped both France and Australia, as well as being a botched pass away from beating Ireland in the SF. I'm still worried about South Africa finding a way to win (too many actual rugby world cups have conditioned me to assume they'll *always* find a way) but I at least think GBR should be competitive. Honestly, it's a shame both teams won't be in Paris. Partially their fault, partially the way the qualification system is set up.

HSBC SVNS World Series Singapore Men 1. New Zealand 2. Ireland 3. Great Britain 4. Australia Women 1. New Zealand 2. Australia 3. France 4. Fiji Full Results

See my comment in the other thread. They've brought in Laviai for Ama on leg 2 and then Yeargin to anchor (assuming that they posted the team in leg order). It makes sense. That's probably the biggest differential split they could do differently. Although with the slightly easier level of competition, you would hope that it wouldn't matter as much. Frankly, we're probably already nailed on for one of the 2 timed quota spots anyway even if we don't finish this. Would take some unexpectedly quick races to change it.

Not quite Rafa. Yeargin has come in for Pipi. So the GB teams: Mixed - Young, La Nielsen, Dobson, Yeargin W 4x100 - Bell, Hunt, Williams, Sibbons M 4x100 - Kilty, NMB, Efoloko, Hughes W 4x400 - Ohuruogo, Li Nielsen, Newnham, Kelly M 4x400 - MHS, AHW, Brier, Davey

The top 4 I was referring to was based on the best time individually over the last year coming *into* the competition, not how well they ran here or a prediction about who should be the top 4 moving forward. I don't know why we didn't see Brier or AHW but once they decided not to pick them, the guys selected were the best on time, in theory. My point was that the men's 4x4 is not blessed with an excess of talent right now. We had to split our expected resources between the mixed and the men's. I was just saying that in the circumstances that was a solid run and about as good as we could have expected.

Given they had a couple of guys in the mixed, it wasn't that bad a shout to pick Makwala - the other options weren't much quicker on paper and his pedigree is obviously great. I was just making a joke that he's almost as old as me.