It seems logic and the tide of public opinion has spoken: Genevieve LaCaze is in! It was announced Saturday that Athletics Australia decided to reverse its decision.
Last week, the University of Florida senior and Australia native ran the race of her life in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase. It was her first real opportunity to run fast, being that during the NCAA season she often ran multiple events or trials and finals. The only problem was that her Olympic A qualifying standard time of 9:41.15 came two days after Athletics Australia's artificial deadline for making the time.
No other females from Australia had qualified in the event, so no one's spot was in jeopardy. And the Olympic Committee had no issues with it. However, the ruling was essentially rules are rules and the deadilne has past.
After a public outcry on Facebook, Twitter, flrunners.com :-) and other social media, as well as encouragement from the president of the Australian Olympic Committee, Athletics Australia (the track & field governing body in the country) reversed the decision. The amendment was made to change the qualifcation period to end on June 22nd instead or June 11th, which effectively was the "LaCaze rule".
Official Statement
Statement from the President Rob Fildes
Following discussions between Athletics Australia President Mr Rob Fildes and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) President Mr John Coates, the AOC selection committee has today approved an amendment to the Athletics Australia nomination criteria to extend the qualification period to 9am (AEST) 22 June 2012.
While our initial nomination policy had AOC endorsement they have now agreed for us to extend the qualifying period. It was also acknowledged the extension could not apply to just one athlete but must apply to all athletes in fairness of opportunity.
It was always the AOC’s position that Athletics Australia’s deadline could be 22 June, but 11 June was initially agreed to allow for nominations, Board ratification and appeals.
We have made this joint decision with the AOC in the interest of the sport and to ensure that we give every opportunity to athletes to be selected in the Olympic Team.
Following this agreement to extend the qualifying period the Athletics Australia selection committee will now reconvene to consider any further athlete performances within this new qualifying period, of which Genevieve LaCaze will be one.
We are very pleased to be nominating one of our largest teams ever for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Rob Fildes
President
Athletics Australia
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More on Genevieve
It seems logic and the tide of public opinion has spoken: Genevieve LaCaze is in! It was announced Saturday that Athletics Australia decided to reverse its decision.
Last week, the University of Florida senior and Australia native ran the race of her life in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase. It was her first real opportunity to run fast, being that during the NCAA season she often ran multiple events or trials and finals. The only problem was that her Olympic A qualifying standard time of 9:41.15 came two days after Athletics Australia's artificial deadline for making the time.
