"Andy Coggan" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<
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> "Bob Schwartz" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> > Robert Chung <
[email protected]> wrote:
> > >> But the bigger issue is that, rightly or wrongly, a widespread
> perception
> > >> exists that favoritism plays a HUGE role in how USAC decides who gets selected for
> > >> international competition
>
> > > I think we saw an example of this last year in women's pursuit.
> >
> > Robert, you're putting me in the uncomfortable position of defending USAC.
> >
> > I presume you're referring to the selection of Conzelman over Vargas for worlds. I may be off
> > base but one of the things the USOC requires before they will pay for travel is evidence of
> > medal contention, either through performance or by making a time standard. Conzelman had done
> > this by taking 4th in both the pursuit and the 500 at the China world cup. That probably counted
> > for more than a narrow win for Vargas over Conzelman at nationals after Vargas had posted a
> > slower qualifying time.
>
> You better check your history books, Bob - it was the 3rd place finisher at nationals (i.e.,
> Mirabella) who was chosen to ride the pursuit at worlds, not Conzelman.
>
> As for it being a "narrow win", here are the results round-by-round:
>
> Qualifying:
>
> 1. Conzelman 3:53.079
> 2. Vargas 3:53.460
> 3. Mirabella 3:56.337
> 4. Kimmet 3:56.453
>
> Semi-finals:
>
> 1. Conzelman 3:55.610
> 4. Kimmet 3:58.447
>
> 2. Vargas 3:51.762
> 3. Mirabella 3:54.311
>
> Finals
>
> 1. Vargas 3:51.400
> 2. Conzelman 4:00.351
>
> So, while Conzelman went progressively slower each round, Vargas just got faster, beating
> Mirabella by over 3 seconds in the semis and winning the final against Conzelman by almost 9
> seconds. Of course, it wouldn't have mattered even if she had qualified first with a new track
> record and then caught whoever she was up against in each round, due to the way the selection
> criteria were written (see below).
>
> > There may be more than meets the eye here but I wouldn't assume there was from that. If Angie
> > never gets a crack at a world cup, then I think you have a stronger case.
>
> Vargas never got a crack at a WC in 2002 because Mirabella automatically locked up all the slots.
> The one WC she (Mirabella) didn't attend was China, which is where Conzelman (not Vargas, the
> pursuit silver medalist from 2001) got the chance to race on a fast (high altitude) track and meet
> the time standard. If not for that inequity, then Vargas would have been on the world's team
> instead of Mirabella.
>
> The stated purpose of the selection criteria is/was something to the effect of "selecting the best
> prepared athletes most capable of medaling at world's", or something to that effect. It's hard to
> believe that they accomplished that goal when the person who was selected finished no better than
> 3rd at nationals just a few weeks prior to world's. People try to justify the selection by
> pointing out that Mirabella was ranked #1 in the world at the time, but that just goes to show you
> how spotty the level of competition at track WCs actually is - the best Mirabella has ever done at
> world's itself is 7th.
>
> Andy Coggan
Coogleford,
Vargas was clearly not up to par. That was the determination of the Federation, so why do you think
you would know any better, because you are and exercise physologist? Vargas needs to quit
complaining and train more. Maybe then she could win some events and deserve to be selected.
D