MileSplit NY - As state standards become on everyone's mind, we take a look at which are the hardest to obtain. Some interesting developments after looking at the facts. Why is Long Jump so much easier to get than Triple? What is it about the sprints that saw over 60 athletes grab that standard? In any case, check out below for the top ten hardest state standards to achieve, in descending order of difficulty.
10. Girls 4x100m
State Standard: 49.0/49.24
Number of Qualifiers - 18
Comment - It's all about the baton passing here, as one miscalculation could end your race. Only eighteen squads could pull it together last year.
9. Boys 3000m Steeplechase
State Standard: 9:42.0/9:42.24
Number of Qualifiers in 2012 - 18
Comment - It would seem the longer the distance, the harder it is to qualify. Throw a couple of barriers in the way, and you have a standard not commonly hit, partly because not every facility can afford the water pit.
8 - Girls Shot Put
State Standard: 38-03
Number of Qualifiers in 2012 - 17
Comment - This mark may not last as that hard to get, as we already have 8 people who have passed the mark in 2013. But it seems that the golden standard for shot is just out of reach for most, as lowering it an inch adds multitudes of talent.
7 - Boys 3200m
State Standard: 9:20.5/9:20.74
Number of Qualifiers in 2012- 16
Comment - Averaging 4:40 miles, twice in a row seems to be a difficult task for the xc-heavy state of New York. With only 4 people in the last five years actually breaking 9-min (Thomas Awad did it via 2-mile conversion last year), the 3200m is a tough battle to face.
6 - Boys 4x100m
State Standard: 42.8/43.04
Number of Qualifiers in 2012 - 15
Comment - One of the only sprint marks on our list, the 4x100m is one of the most techinical running events on the oval. With nearly a quarter of the race run in exchange zones, anything can happen on the handoff.
5 - Boys 1600m
State Standard: 4:16.5/4:16.74
Number of Qualifiers in 2012 - 14
Comment - We had nine athletes under this mark indoors, and six already outdoors, indicating this number may be another that is getting more attention.
4 - Girls 4x400m
State Standard: 3:56.6/3:56.84
Number of Qualifiers in 2012 - 13
Comment - Finding four girls on a team under 60secs is never easy, and only thirteen teams managed to accomplish it last year. The number of qualifiers may actually go down this year, as some of the top teams have yet to show their dominance has returned from last year.
3 - Girls 3000m
State Standard: 10:03.0/10:03.24
Number of Qualifiers in 2012 - 13
Comment - A little slower when compared to the male equivalent standard (9:20 (B) is about 10flat (G)), but it seems to be more difficult to break. We've got seven under already, with only three coming from the Glavin, which was a field specifically set to break 10:00.00
2 - Girls 2000m Steeplechase
State Standard: 7:05.3/7:05.54
Number of Qualifiers in 2012 - 11
Comment - There could be quite a few explanations as to why this field was not deeper. Were girls more likely to save their talents for the barrier-free race? Or is it that much harder to make the trek through the water pit as a girl. Either way, it was a hard standard to hit.
1 - Girls 1500m
State Standard: 4:36.9/4:37.14
Number of Qualifiers in 2012 - 11
Comment - While there was one girl way under the qualifying mark last year, the Mary Cain effect hadn't yet sunk in. Now, girls are pushing the pace from the gun, and with only 5 girls making this so far, anything can happen.