District V Track and Field

[count2infinity]

i'm sorry...wrong person...this isn't Ben's First year...was thinking of someone else...sorry bout that.

[Jifert]

OK, just to clear some things up (this is Jay Ifert)

I cleared 6'4" on my second attempt, and Ben cleared 6'4" on his third attempt.

At that point, we both were pretty excited about going to states. I asked him if he wanted to go up to 6'6" and he agreed. So I went back to sit down for a breather.

At that point, the guy running the event came over and told us that we were going up 1 inch to 6'5" which I did NOT verbally agree to.

I don't want to take anything away from Ben, because he was obviously the better jumper that day when he cleared 6'5". I'll admit though that I was a bit angry at the guy running the event because he did NOT ask me if we were going up by 1 inch. It's not his decision to make.

[young gun 22]

ok, i'm sorry i thought you agreed jay but i guess you didn't anyhow i think the rules state that once there are two opponents left than one may go up one inch and the other may pass and go up to the 2 inches higher height.

[10]

young gun...what school are you from...b/c you do an aweful lot of trash talking and you never say where you're from?

[fleaflicker]

I guess Ben Way asked about going up one inch because he thought he had a better shot at winning that way, and the rule about going up one inch at a time when there are two jumpers left took effect. Oh well, I don't know what exactly happened, but I could understand how that might miff you, Jay. On the other, congrats to you and Way, since you're both going to the state competition, which is no small feat. Many good athletes never get that chance. And if I recall, you're tied for a 7th or an 8th seed. Depending on how things go for you and the other jumpers, you could finish as high as third (only one has jumped as high as 6-8, and the rest are 6-6 or lower I think) or not medal at all. Best of luck to you at Shipp!

[Head Roadie]

The Games Committee of the DV Meet decided to use the same rules that are used at states. In the HJ and PV when 8 or less remain (medals) the bar goes up 1" or 3" at a time unless all remaining competitors agree to 2" or 6". At Dist. 5 meet this is altered to when 3 or less remain. After 6'2" both agreed to go to 6'4" which was the smart move because it was the state qualifying standard. After 6'4" Both did NOT agree to go up by 2". This method was clearly stated in the memo that went out to the coaches two weeks before the meet. the purpose of this rule, as opposed to what had been done in years past was simple. Get our best kids to states. Wouldn't want a better pole vaulter or HJ, for instance, to lose out because of a silly miss somewhere and get burned because the bar went up 2" or 6". We want those who can jump highest at states and games committee took measure to insure that this occurred. Same thing happened in the PV. Fortunately it didn't matter in the Ifert/Way battle because 6'4" was the SQS.

[Nittany]

Head Roadie:

Thanks for explaining that one! It did all work out in the end, as Ben Way finished 5th in the state and Jay Ifert took 2nd with a jump of 6'6" (winner was 6'8")!!

Congratulations to these two fine young men as they demonstrated terrific sportsmanship at states not to mention the fact that D-5 had 2 competitors medal at states!! :!:

[duece2]

district 5 had 2 competiters medal in just one event not to mention the other events!

lol

duece2

[brlnsoccerchick19]

Actually, D5 had two medalists in two events. Both qualifiers for the girls long jump medaled, as did the two boys high jumpers.

[Head Roadie]

If the HJ judge did not ask, and just went up by 1" then he was wrong unless he felt that the instructions were to go up by 1" unless both guys came to him and requested to go up by 2". If Ifert and Way didn't go to him and request then he did what he was supposed to do. The guy running the event does a good job and I think his ability to keep the jumpers relaxed unlike previous years events that were marred by controversy and disqualifications was very evident with the performances at Districts. The other thing that could have happened is that Ridge's coaches may have changed Way's mind or a school record could have come into play. At any rate, with both qualifying, 6'5 for seeding purposes was a good move irregardless of who was winning.

Congrats to all our jumpers for doing so well at states...3 HJ medals, 3 LJ medals, and a TJ medal is as good as any area of the state.