Exciting changes coming for World Champs
Published:Saturday | August 5, 2023 | 12:09 AM
FOR THE 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, World Athletics will incorporate recent changes to rules and event presentation relating to lane draws and qualification to the next round of middle-distance events.
The seeding for lane draws has been amended in consultation with athletes and coaches for the straight events (100 metres, 100m hurdles, 110m hurdles), 200m and 400m.
For the straight events, the top-ranked athletes will still be assigned lanes three, four five and six, while the changes will see the next ranked teams get lanes two and seven and the last ranked occupy lanes one and eight.
The 200m will see the top-ranked athletes get lanes five, six and seven while the next ranked will get lanes three four, and eight and the last ranked will get lanes one and two.
The 400m will see the top-ranked competitors get lanes four to seven, while the next ranked will be assigned lanes three and eight and the last ranked teams get lanes one and two.
For middle-distance events longer than the 800m (1500m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m) qualifying from rounds will be based on positions and not times with qualification quota depending on the event.
Additionally, any lanes or starting positions left empty due to the withdrawal of an athlete will, where possible, be filled by the next-best ranked athlete. This policy will apply to finals and semifinals in all disciplines, including field events and relays with no redraw of lanes or reordering of attempts.
A virtual ‘hot seat’ system will be implemented, where the next-best ranked athlete(s) or teams will be on notice to wait for any withdrawals. A maximum of two athletes will be considered for each replacement.
A new feature that will be added will be the creation of a room where non-automatic qualifiers can wait to see if they have advanced. This will be for all sprints, hurdles and 800m events. The room will have comfortable chairs on which to relax, TV screens to watch subsequent races, foam rollers and stretch bands, refreshments, as well as access to their coaches and kit.
The athletes can stay in the room for up to 20 minutes and then will be taken through the mixed zone. The room will have TV cameras, so fans can watch their reactions to the results.
Additionally for athletes running under protest regarding the validity of a false-start charge, in cases where the reaction time is close to the allowed limit, if the start referee feels the start in question requires further study, the referee may allow the athlete to run under protest.
For any run under protest, a final decision is taken by the referee and, in turn, subject to an appeal to the jury.
Athletes will not be able to run under protest if the false start has been detected by a fully operational start information system or in cases where the false start is clearly visible.
The start referee will announce relevant decisions to the stadium spectators and the television audience.