Athletics Australia Selection Policy - 2019 IAAF World Championships ATHLETICS AUSTRALIA SELECTION POLICY 17th IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS th th DOHA, QATAR, 27 SEPTEMBER to 6 OCTOBER 2019 This document sets out the basis on which Athletics Australia will select athletes for the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, 27 September – 6 October 2019. For the avoidance of doubt, the “Selectors” referred to throughout this Policy is the Athletics Australia National Selection Panel appointed by the Board of Athletics Australia from time to time. Also, the reference to “Head of High Performance Systems” means the person in that role or their nominee from time to time and reference to “Head of Performance and Coaching” means the person in that role or their nominee from time to time. 1 Aims of Policy and overview of Selection process The aim of Athletics Australia’s Selection Policy (“Policy”) for the World Championships is to nominate the most competitive possible team to represent Australia. The policy is aligned with the Sport Australia High Performance Strategy and the Athletics Australia Strategic Plan to achieve medals, supported by additional top eight places, at the Olympic Games and IAAF World Athletics Championships. Specifically, the policy aims to facilitate the following outcomes (“Aims”): • Nominate the most competitive possible team to represent Australia; • Selecting athletes and relay teams with the realistic potential to win a medal or finish in the top 8 in Doha; and • Providing major Championships experience to likely 2020 Olympic Games medallists and top 8 finishers. The process for selection under this Policy is that the Selectors will consider selecting (i) athletes that have qualified according to the criteria set out in this Policy and then (ii) any athletes offered a “Roll Down” invitation. In those cases where the selectors will have a choice of qualified athletes they will be guided by this policy and will prioritise those athletes who are likely to be the most competitive in Doha. Page 1 v1.9 21/05/2019 Athletics Australia Selection Policy - 2019 IAAF World Championships Athletics Australia will consider selecting athletes offered a Roll Down invitation by virtue of their position on the IAAF Top Lists where the athlete is likely to achieve a top 8 result in Doha or the 2020 Olympic Games. In all cases, the selectors will consider each athlete’s competitive record and demonstrated ability to plan the peak of their season at a major championship event. It is the expectation of Athletics Australia that Athletes will compete at the National Championships for their event and support the Australian Athletics Summer Series of events. The strength of the 2019 Australian Season will be assessed by the IAAF when determining categorisation for the new World Ranking System. It is important that our best athletes compete to enable the maximisation of points in Australia when attempting to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 2 Standards, criteria and athlete numbers 2.1 Athletes can only compete at the World Championships if invited by the IAAF and if Athletics Australia accepts the invitation. Athletics Australia is under no obligation to accept the invitation of any particular athlete. Further, and for the avoidance of doubt, if the IAAF amends its qualification rules in any way, that may impact this Policy. If that occurs, Athletics Australia reserves the right to amend this Policy in accordance with clause 11 and it will provide as much notice as practical to affected people. 2.2 Individual athletes can qualify by: 2.2.1 Achieving the relevant IAAF Standard (listed in Appendix 1) or 2.2.2 By Wild Card through meeting a relevant IAAF Status Qualification (as listed in Appendix 1); or 2.2.3 Receiving a “Roll Down” position to complete the overall field size set by the IAAF. The IAAF will offer Roll Down positions based on world ranking within the IAAF qualification period. (See Appendix 3 for guideline athlete numbers per event.) 2.3 Normally the IAAF will invite up to a maximum of three athletes per event from any one country. 2.3.1 A fourth athlete can be added where they are the reigning World Champion from 2017, Diamond League Champion from 2019 or leader (at the closing date of the qualification period) of the IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge, IAAF Race Walk Challenge or Combined Events Challenge. 2.3.2 If both the reigning World Champion from 2017 and Diamond League Champion from 2019 in any one event or leader in the IAAF Hammer Throw, Race Walk or Combined Events Challenge are different athletes from the same nation, that nation can only choose one of those athletes. 2.4 Relay teams can qualify by: 2.4.1 Having placed in the top ten (twelve in the mixed 4x400m) at the 2019 World Relay Championships or 2.4.2 By receiving a “Roll Down” position to complete the overall field size (16 teams) set by the IAAF. The IAAF will offer Roll Down positions based on world ranking Page 2 v1.9 21/05/2019 Athletics Australia Selection Policy - 2019 IAAF World Championships within the IAAF qualification period. 2.4.3 Athletes do not need to have achieved any specific time to be named in a relay squad, although all individual entries in the 100m must be included in the relevant 4x100m squad and all individual entries in the 400m must be included in the relevant 4x400m squad. This does not apply to the mixed 4x400m. Being named in a relay squad does not guarantee competing in the relay at the World Championships. Any team member initially selected for any event can be selected to compete in the relays at the World Championships. 3 Selection and Selection Priority 3.1 AA will not accept IAAF invitations for (and therefore will not select) athletes who: 3.1.1 Do not meet the Athlete Eligibility Criteria (see Section 4); and 3.1.2 Only qualify by a performance or performances that were set outside the Qualification Period (see Section 5) or were not an Eligible Performance (see Section 6). Further to the points above, AA may not accept IAAF invitations for (and therefore may not select) athletes if, in the opinion of the Selectors, those athletes are unable to achieve the aims of the Policy set out in clause 1. 3.2 Selection for all events except the relays and marathon. 3.2.1 In this Policy: a) “Priority Status” will be given to any eligible athletes who achieves a Wildcard Category A or IAAF Standard (as set out, and subject to the comments in, Appendix 1) within the Qualification Period for each event set out in the table in Section 5.2. b) “National Champion” status will be given to the first eligible Australian athlete in the National Championship for each event set out in the table in Section 5.2. c) “Oceania Champion” status will be given to any Australian athlete that wins a relevant event at the 2019 Oceania Championships and therefore qualifies for consideration as a Wildcard Category B athlete (as set out, and subject to the comments in, Appendix 1). 3.2.2 At the initial selection meeting for each event (as per the table in Section 5.2) athletes will be selected as follows: a) If the National Champion also has Priority Status, then, subject to meeting all requirements in section 4, he or she will be selected provided they have nominated for selection. b) Additional athletes holding Priority Status can be selected at this stage, provided space is left for the National Champion (if they are not selected at this stage). Page 3 v1.9 21/05/2019 Athletics Australia Selection Policy - 2019 IAAF World Championships c) For the avoidance of doubt, the selectors are not obliged to select any qualified athlete, other than the National Champion if the National Champion also holds Priority Status. d) At each stage the selectors will be guided by the notes in Section 7. 3.2.3 After the 2019 Oceania Championships (25-28 June 2019), the Selectors may hold an interim selection meeting and consider any athletes that have qualified as a Wildcard Category B athlete. The Selectors may select an athlete at this interim athlete provided that the athlete otherwise meets all the requirements of this Policy, in particular the guidance notes in Appendix 1. However, the Selectors: a) will not, at this interim selection meeting, select an athlete in an event where four or more athletes have already qualified for consideration by Selectors (eg as Oceania Champion, National Champion and/or achievement of Priority Status) or if the Selectors, Head Coach, Head of High Performance Systems or Head of Performance and Coaching consider it is likely that four or more athletes will be qualify for consideration under any of the available methods by the conclusion of the qualification period; b) are not obliged to select any qualified athlete at this stage. 3.2.4 At the final selection meeting for each event (as per the table in Section 5.2) the selectors may select additional athletes. The order of adding additional athletes will be: a) The National Champion if he or she has not already been selected and if they now hold Priority Status; b) Any other athletes holding Priority Status; c) Oceania Champions (again, having regard to the matters set out in Appendix 1). For the avoidance of doubt the selectors must consider athletes in the order above but they are not obliged to select an athlete, other than the National Champion (providing they hold Priority Status), at any stage. Except as set out, the Selectors will be guided by the notes in Section 7.