McCasey
, a key Sacramento organizer of the WMA world meet, says: “Staff is very confident we will exceed 5,000 entries” even though the latest figure — as of today, Tuesday — is 2,000 short. John writes: “Some food for thought: 3,000 entries six days before closing of entries is unprecedented as nobody has ever signed up electronically prior to the affiliate deadlines, which for us is May 6. This means that those athletes who chose to register with their affiliates are still to be counted at that time. Just as encouraging (although disappointing) is nearly 40 percent of the affiliates/countries have not signed up for the online registration. … Although we cannot estimate how large this number might be, it is safe to assume it will be significant.”
Bob Burns also shares the
latest WMA newsletter.
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April newsletter is out on the WMA site
All affiliates must have their paper entries submitted online at wma2011.com or received by the Sacramento Local Organizing Committee by May 6.
As specified in the contract between the Sacramento LOC and the WMA Council, late entries from individual athletes will be accepted online with a $50 late registration fee beginning April 25 through a to-be-determined date in May. The deadline for late entries will be posted online at wma2011.com in the coming weeks.
Too bad some affliates didn’t opt for the online registration. It was painless…much easier that the old days of four-five pages of entry forms.
Thanks for posting, Matt B., and it’s good to see your name again, Doug Smith The Junior (formerly Doug Smith the Younger, I believe).
Anyway, Matt B. and others, this “to-be-determined date in May” arrangement had me thinking of my old college classmate, initials MR. When the weekend got close and he still didn’t have a date, he simply got on the phone and didn’t give up until he had secured one.
I used to feel there was no limit for MR: call until one woman had said yes (one call or 20, what’s the difference?). Similarly, with the Worlds, the deadline could be extended indefinitely I guess until the desired number is reached. If the goal is 5200 entrants, just keep pushing the date back until 5200 looks to be a certainty.
Personally, I prefer a goal of 5700. Matt B., when you posted on April 15 there were only 17 competitors signed up for the M40 800, now there are 29 (just 6 days later). The M50 800 has 49 entrants and looks to be headed for 70 or more.
As I said, just keep on extending the deadline until the goal is reached.
Of course I would really prefer if they would have an entry deadline of July 17.
Year after year at event after event, deadlines get extended because they don’t get their expected number of registrants. When will any of these meet organizers learn that the artificial restrictions they impose on registration causes people to not register at all. “Its expensive and I don’t know if I can make it . . . .”
That seems to make sense Peter.
I’m sure the reasoning behind 60% of late registration has to be injury or whether an athlete feels they will be ready in time after coming back from a certain injury. I know that is my case. (Especially with the no refund clause)
The second biggest reason has to money-commitment-travel. Can they afford it? Get the required time off from work? Juggle personal and family schedules etc.
Sure, 5% or so are waiting to see who signs up for what and decide which event they may want to compete in, giving them at least a better chance of making the final. I know I have done that a few times in the past.
Early registration periods are OK, but honestly April is pretty darn early. At least have 3 set dates with an increasing late penalty, maybe $20, then $40 or something more realistic. Registration is not cheap for world’s.
All that being said I will probably procrastinate and register at 11 PM on Sunday night.
Along Andy’s reasoing, sure open registration much later, maybe July 8th, (not sure about the 17th)But really why not?
Will WMA imitate NSG with its ever moving deadline for entries? They are a bit of a joke in terms of pushing off the deadline two and three times. However they do shut down registration a couple of months before the games start.
There is a need for some lead time for a multi-sport event such as the WMG and NSG but for a track meet – 2 1/2 months – really – will they have to make the road wider for the marathon? I can see a month in advance perhaps to make sure they have sufficient volunteers and officials – and to make sure folks are really going to come.
Oh well – it is what it is – and gives us something to complain about I suppose. But think how much more $$$ they could make if they accepted entries up until 2 weeks before the meet. After that date – airfare goes up for those flying in – convenient hotel rooms may be hard to find, and those needing visas – will be out of luck.
generally, i will wait the week leading up to the actual event (i.e. road race, etc.) before i officially enter; afterall, as an old athlete i never know if/when i might get injured or sick. and because of the huge expense at wma coupled with the double-whammy of a no-refund policy, i can’t take that risk hoping i will be ready-to-go in late july.
I just read a comment on the German “masters track’, pretty funny and rather accurate. They gently poke fun at the low number of American entries and mention the 1500 Finns who started at the last world championships. 1500 out of a population of 5 million. Let’s take 37 million Californians and that means how many entrants? 300 million Americans equal how many starters? But wait. We don’t want the masses, just potential medal winners? Or what? I’m confused, I have to admit. In the meantime, they poke fun.
Peter, I have to admit, your comment is getting me all frazzled. 5,700 entrants? Makes me shake my head in disbelief. Proper promotion of the marathon (Compete in an American uniform!) in Runners World, Running Times, regional running publications and so on would have guaranteed 20,000 entrants making the WMA a financial success as well. Man, 5,700? I can’t believe this sh..!
Yes, Stefan, it is pretty wild. Looks like we will end up with something in the 5800 to 5990 range, but I have no simple formula for prognostication. Certainly a country such as the US should have no problem whatsoever in getting 12,000 entrants even without the marathon.
With the marathon included there should be at least 21,000 entrants, and even that would be puny when you consider the US population. Oh, well.
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