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American Brooks Still Needs Steeplechase Qualifier

Posted July 22nd, 2007 at 2:54 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field

Tom Brooks courtesy of new york road runners The clock is ticking on American Tom Brooks who failed yesterday to land a qualifying time for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics which opens in Osaka on Aug. 25. According to USATF rules, Brooks must secure an “A” qualifying time of 8:24.60 by Aug. 1 to claim the spot on the U.S. team he provisionally earned by finishing third at last month’s AT&T USA Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis.

Brooks, 29, clocked 8:32.71 at yesterday’s 26th Meeting de Atletismo in Madrid, well short of the standard. Although he already has surpassed the “B” standard of 8:32.00, he needs the “A” because the second place finisher in the USA Championships, Aaron Aguayo, only has the “B” standard and only one “B” athlete is permitted by IAAF rules. By finishing ahead of Brooks at the selection meet, Aguayo is assured of a team berth.

U.S. Champion, Joshua McAdams, already has the “A” standard and is all set for Osaka.

Although the IAAF had set the qualifying period to span from January 1, 2006 through August 13, 2007, USATF has decided to set the earlier cut-off date.

Should Brooks not make the qualifying time, the fourth place finisher from the USA Championships, Anthony Famiglietti, would be selected to the team. He broke the “A” standard three times last year including a season best of 8:19.77 set at Linz. The fifth place finisher in the U.S. Championshps, Dan Lincoln, also has the “A” standard should Famiglietti decide not to take a spot on the team.

PHOTO: Courtesy of New York Road Runners (Taken by Alison Wade; now with EliteRunning.com)