Canadian Race Walk Rankings /
Classement canadien de marche

Compiled by: Roger Burrows

All rights reserved.

Corrections and updates are always welcome.
Please send them, with official meet results, to

34 Oakhaven Private, Ottawa, Ontario, K1K 4K1, Canada
e-mail: Roger Burrows

These Canadian Rankings are not those prepared by Athletics Canada. We have a cordial relationship with AC statisticians, and share information as needed. We find, however, that, with only a few events to deal with, we are frequently ready with current rankings before those faced with the monumental task of documenting the entire sport of track and field.

We also take an approach to formatting and layout that at times seems clearer to us, but that may not reflect strict track and field methodology. We specify, but see no need to separate, “track” or “road” performances. We record, but do not fret about, whether a track competition is “mixed”. We have no problem with properly-recorded “splits”: while we of course accept the sport’s limitations on splits for some official administrative purposes, we do not extend those limitations to the performance itself.

Comments that give the context of the event, and describe its conduct, are made by the notations described in the Legend. Some are familiar to “track stats nuts”, others are specific to our purposes. With the notations, we can preserve the sport’s eloquent simplicity of performances listed in order.

We also generally go deeper. Our “recording standards” are inclusive enough so that diligent training and valiant effort can find themselves in the rankings without meeting sport-wide criteria of elite.

But our rankings continue to be rigorously based on official meet results. If you don’t provide them, or tell us where to find them, your desire to be included may have its challenges. Second- and third-hand reports may be interesting, and may set us searching for an official source. If it is interesting enough, an unofficial report may warrant a note in the “Other Noteworthy Performances” section that follows each list. But only official results keep us amateur statisticians happy to spend our evenings transcribing.

Our goal, in short, is to “tell the story” of the year’s Race Walking in numbers. We try to do this both for the year (we usually have 4 or 5 updates each year), and within each race. With this in mind, please take a quick look at the following Legend before diving in to find your name!

 

Legend

The Rankings are prepared from official results only. Electronic results are acceptable, provided they are posted by the Race Organizers.

Following each event ranking, there may be a list of “Other Noteworthy Performances”. These are either (a) results that have been reported, but not adequately documented, (b) results of interest, but held at other than the standard distances, or (c ) results that contain some feature preventing inclusion in the regular list. An explanation of the feature is always provided.

The principle of results reporting is to “tell the story of the event in numbers” . Our preferred method of reporting finishing positions is therefore (a) overall and (b) by gender (see explanation of “m” below). Race organizers sometimes list age categories separately, as if the races were actually held separately. But we encourage the production of the “general classification”, with category placings listed within it. Category placings should include the athlete’s year of birth (preferable to age for statistical purposes).

 

Other symbols

* (or **) Indicates a explanatory note of some kind following the entry

@ Race Organiser’s official split en route to a longer distance which was completed.

This is considered an official performance by the IAAF for all purposes including World Records.

# Race Organiser’s official split en route to a longer distance which was not completed.

The IAAF would not accept such a performance for a World Record. But there appears to be no inherent reason to disallow it for other purposes. Unless such a reason is provided in the results,these performances are listed in the rankings.

(i) Competition held indoors

(m) Performance in a mixed competition. Rankings for mixed races usually contain two placings.

The first is the placing among athletes of the same gender. The second is the placing overall. If only one placing is listed, it can be assumed that there were no competitors of the other gender ahead.

In road races for both running and Race Walking, males and females have traditionally competed together except in high-level championships. On the track, we welcome the 2008 IAAF rule change that now permits mixed competition at 5000 m and longer. Previously, gender placings in track races were a clear admission that rules had been broken - however logical the circumstances - and were on occasion concealed to protect athletes’ performances! Now gender placings can take their rightful place as a legitimate part of the story of the event.

ORW The Ohio Race Walker is a monthly newsletter, published since 1965, which contains results and information from around the world. It is comprehensive, but admittedly informal. To be included in our rankings, ORW reports need to be supported by official results.

A Venue at altitude over 1000m. (In Canada, Foothills and Glenmore tracks in Calgary are likely the only major ones to fulfill this IAAF criterion. It’s close, but we are not going to be picky over a meter or two. The Bow River valley downtown is a little under 1000m. Calgary’s official altitude is 1049m, taken at the airport that looks down on the city. The two suburban tracks may not be “way up there”, but they are well out of the valley.)