Repechage heats are a really interesting concept. Especially in the longer-distance runs. Not sure it applies as much in the 200 m and 400 m, even though it is being used. First few in the first heat go through, the rest go to a repechage heat, instead of deciding who gets into the semis purely based on time.
I like it, because especially as distances increase, your speed is not purely based on your personal performance, but also on the mood of the group of runners, in a way that’s kinda similar to the road race in cycling: do people decide to play it safe and go for a bunch sprint at the end? Does one leader get out in front early with the rest believing they’ll be too tired to keep it up? Does one go fast and the rest speed up to keep up? Deciding who qualifies for the semis based on placement rather than pure time in these events is a good idea, IMO.
Repechage heats are a really interesting concept. Especially in the longer-distance runs. Not sure it applies as much in the 200 m and 400 m, even though it is being used. First few in the first heat go through, the rest go to a repechage heat, instead of deciding who gets into the semis purely based on time.
I like it, because especially as distances increase, your speed is not purely based on your personal performance, but also on the mood of the group of runners, in a way that’s kinda similar to the road race in cycling: do people decide to play it safe and go for a bunch sprint at the end? Does one leader get out in front early with the rest believing they’ll be too tired to keep it up? Does one go fast and the rest speed up to keep up? Deciding who qualifies for the semis based on placement rather than pure time in these events is a good idea, IMO.