Take Your Mark....Get Set.... Can You Hear Me Now?

Mistakes happen in T&F all the time, especially when it comes to starts. People get nervous, antsy and before you know it, someone just messed up. Some mistakes are understandable and some make you go "What in the hell?!" As I sat and watched the World Championships yesterday the first race that I was able to see was the women's 60 hurdles. I saw Kristi Castlin start but then she stopped, became very irate and it was clear that she believed there had been a false start. However she was the only person who didn't clear a single hurdle. I instantly wondered, what happen?

After I found out that some of the athletes had been complaining about the sound of the gun and that there was a computer gun sound being used, I felt sorry for Castlin and others so there went the understanding part. However not too long after that came the "What in the hell?!" I personally thought she, like many others could have and should have prepared a little better to prevent this. I have made a national team or two in my time and I do remember that there have been practices a day or two before competition started where you can go to the track to take starts with whatever gun sound that was being used. I also remembered that I was never the first race of the day so I had a chance to hear what the gun sounded like. That gave me a chance to distinctly differentiate anything else going on around me and the sound of the gun that I would have to react to. If only the IAAF would just stick to what works there wouldnt be any issues! Just have a person holding a starters pistol stand by the start line, let them say the commands and pull the trigger. Too much like right huh?

So in saying all that, here is what I think about this...If athletes have the necessary resources and opportunities that I just talked about and the athletes did used them, I blame the athlete for false starting. You had what you needed, used it and still made a mistake? Yeah that's on you. If they did have those things and the athlete didn't use them or didn't know about them...I blame the athlete and coaching staff. Those national team coaches are suppose to know and inform the athletes of everything they need to perform at their best. If the coaches did and the athlete chose not to, the coaches should have explained why it is needed and made them. SIDE NOTE: USA National teams need to stop switching up coaches every year. Find some of the best coaches that get it done and stick with them until there is a need to switch. Finally if they didn't have resources and opportunity...Well then check off another box for the IAAF for assisting in more stupid decisions that will NOT help the athletes perform their best in the sport.

Who's to blame for this? I dont know...