USATF Indoor Championships 2014

USATF adds 2nd 1,500; Masters snubbed

USATF adds 2nd 1,500; Masters snubbed

Feb 21, 2014 by Christopher Chavez
USATF adds 2nd 1,500; Masters snubbed

United States Track and Field has added a second section of the men's 1,500-meter run to the schedule at the U.S. Indoor Track and Field Championship this weekend in Albuquerque. The first section would be fast, crown a national champion and send two runners to Sopot, Poland for the IAAF World Indoor Championships. The second section will also be a timed final. 

Brooks Beasts head coach Danny Mackey and athlete Riley Masters spoke with Jon Gugala for RunBlogRun about the situation. 

"It's upsetting," Masters told Gugala. "I would like to be in the fast heat. I would like to take a shot at making the Worlds team. Someone made the decision to put me in the slow heat, and that truly is unfortunate. I really think I could compete well this weekend." 

Mackey called it a “fatuous” situation on his Twitter page, but was not surprised. 

Based on the status of entries, Masters noted Galen Rupp and David Torrence were listed in the fast section without qualifying times. Masters is the 7th fastest runner that declared for the race after running 3:58.35 for the mile at the Iowa State Classic last weekend.

Last summer, USATF came under fire for not allowing Andy Bayer, Maverick Darling and Joe Stilin into the men's 5,000-meter run at the U.S. Outdoor Championships, after half the field scratched and only nine men were allowed to run. Flotrack site editor Mitch Kastoff conducted an investigation into the inner workings of what happened in the decision-making process by USATF and how to move forward. 

With less than 48 hours until the men's 1,500-meter final, it appears USATF may soon have to explain itself once again.