Athletics Australia – News – F.A.Q: IAAF World Championships Selection Policy

What are IAAF Participation Rules, and how do they effect the selection of the Australian Flame team?
 
The Participation Rules set by the IAAF dictate the number of athletes that can be entered to compete in each event by a member federation competing at the World Championships. For all events except the marathon and relays, this is limited to three athletes.

If three athletes are to be selected, at least two must have the required ‘A’ standard. If two athletes are to be selected, at least one athlete must have the required ‘A’ standard.
If one athlete is to be selected, they must have achieved at least a ‘B’ standard.

What obligations does an athlete have to the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour to be eligible for selection?
 
All athletes are required to compete at Qantas Australian Athletics Tour meets at which the event they seek selection is being conducted. Additionally, for all events excluding the marathon and the men’s 50km walk, they must compete in the Australian Championship and Selection Trial.

Athletes are also encouraged to compete at National Athletics Series events hosted by Athletics Australia.

All athletes seeking exemption from one of the above events should have already made a request for this to occur through the Athletics Australia Chairman of Selectors.

Athletes who do not meet their obligations to compete at the Australian Athletics Tour Meets will not be eligible for Automatic Selection and their selection will be subject to the discretion of the Selectors.

What are Qualification Standards, and how have they been adopted by Athletics Australia?
 
The IAAF set ‘A’ and ‘B’ qualification standards for each event to be held at the World Championships. These qualification standards have been adopted by Athletics Australia and as such athletes must meet at least a ‘B’ standard to be eligible for selection.

What are the Qualification Periods for all events?

The Qualification Period for all track and field events, excluding the 10,000m, is 1 October 2012 through until the IAAF closing date of 29 July 2013.

For the Marathon, 10,000m, 20Km and 50Km Walk events the Qualification Period is 1 January 2012 – 12 May 2013.

For the Decathlon and Heptathlon the Qualification Period is 1 January 2012 – 29 July 2013.

Have some athletes already been pre-selected to compete at the IAAF World Championships?
 
Athletics Australia has already confirmed the pre-selection of six athletes for the Australian Flame team bound for Moscow. These are Sally Pearson, Mitchell Watt, Jared Tallent, Steven Solomon, Lisa Weightman and Michael Shelley.

Additionally, Scott Westcott, Jane Fardell and Lauren Shelley have been announced as marathon starters.

Any Pre Selected athlete is still subject to meeting all Eligibility Requirements and satisfying the Domestic Competition Obligations as set out in the Selection Policy. 

What happens if I win the Selection Trial for the event I am seeking selection?

The first placed athlete from the Australian Championships and Selection Trial in each event will be an Automatic Selection to the Australian Flame team subject to meeting all eligibility requirements, domestic competition obligations and the attainment of at least one ‘B’ standard prior to the end of the qualification period.

If there is already a pre selected athlete in the event and they only have a ‘B’ qualifying performance in the Qualification Period, then the Selection Trial winner will be required to attain an ‘A’ Qualifier by 29 July 2013 to secure their selection.
 
Will I be selected if I achieve an ‘A’ Standard?

Athletes who achieve an ‘A’ standard during the relevant Qualification Period will be selected to the Australian Flame team for the World Championships subject to the discretion of the Selectors.

The Selectors stress that it is their intention to fill all available spots with athletes who have achieved an ‘A’ standard during the relevant Qualification Period.

Will I be selected if I achieve a ‘B’ standard?

A ‘B’ qualified athlete will be selected into the one available position as per the participation rules so long as a pre-selected athlete or Selection Trial winner is not already filling the spot.

This will be determined at the same time as the close of IAAF entries on 29 July 2013.

How can I be selected to compete in a relay?

The first three placed athletes in the 100m and 400m final at the Australian Championships and Selection Trial, both male and female, will be automatically selected to the relay teams.

Additionally, the Selectors can choose to add a further three athletes per relay team for the World Championships. Noting that the Selectors may select athletes already chosen in the 2013 World Championships Team in other events for addition to the relay teams.

If Australia does not have a Qualifier in any relay event at the completion of the Selection Trial, the first three (3) athletes in the relevant event at the Australian Championships & Selection Trial will be Provisional Automatic Selections dependent on Australia achieving a Qualifier by the IAAF Entry Date of 29 July 2013.

Will Athletics Australia be selecting a full team for the Marathon events?

Athletics Australia intends to select up to five (5) athletes in both the men’s and women’s Marathon events subject to the athletes having achieved the IAAF Marathon Qualifying Standard.

Shortly following the close of the Qualifying Period on 12 May 2013, the Selectors will convene to consider remaining selections for the men’s and women’s marathon events.

What are my obligations after I am selected for the 2013 World Championship Team?

All athletes selected in the Team will be required to prove their form and fitness to compete in the 2013 World Championships to the Head Coach prior to departure from Australia. The pre-departure standards to be set by the Head Coach will be communicated to athletes in writing as part of their confirmation of selection.

Failure by a selected athlete to meet the pre-Australia departure standard will, at the discretion of the Head Coach, result in an athlete who has been selected in the Team being withdrawn from the World Championship Team.

All athletes are required to sign the Athletics Australia Code of Conduct before entering the World Championships Village.

 

Athletics Australia – News