Anyone understand why there seem to be so few races posted into the rankings for 2009? Seems that very few races have been posted or updated, so it’s not just one race director or region. Seems that their is limited purpose in even having preliminary rankings without at least regular updates from race season.
They seem to update their race results with one big effort towards the end of the year. It’s the way they did it last year too.
Perhaps they should just do a end of year, and not bother having anything prior to that. in the end, it’s just a reference point for us data obsessed folks, since I would be first to admit, it does not really mean too much.
Perhaps they should just do a end of year, and not bother having anything prior to that. in the end, it’s just a reference point for us data obsessed folks, since I would be first to admit, it does not really mean too much.
It does mean a lot to many of us. It would be really interesting to watch the rankings unfold throughout the season. Plus, it’s one of only a couple of benefits that USAT membership brings us.
They say there was some “technical issues” that prevented them from uploading race data for quite a while. In addition, this “technical issue” prevented them from updating the records of those whose membership was about to expire, so these folks have race scores of 0 (I know this from firsthand experience). Supposedly, the issue was resolved a week or two ago. So instead of just the race I did in April, I now see the race I did in early May. I’m still credited with a 0 race ranking, though I can see what my eventual race scores are.
I managed to finish my entire race season before they managed to upload a single one of my (three) USAT races. The sad thing is, I chose one of the races specifically to receive an “official” ranking for the season.
I received this e-mail response on September 1st:
“We are currently changing our ranking system that we use. Right now we are waiting on a data conversion. In fact our managers are in Minnesota right now talking with the new company. Once we get the data conversion we will upload the races as quickly as possible. Sorry for the delay."
Why did USAT decide to implement a change to its ranking system during the height of the racing season? I have checked back weekly and haven’t found any updates to the rankings for men 35-39 using races beyond June 28th. Ugh!
I know that this year’s delay is a “technical” issue but as paying members, USAT should update the rankings as soon as race officials provide the data. This would enable us to gauge how we are doing in “real time” and, if any glitches occur, have ample time to “protest” any ranking data point before final rankings are posted.
It does mean a lot to many of us. It would be really interesting to watch the rankings unfold throughout the season. Plus, it’s one of only a couple of benefits that USAT membership brings us.
The rankings are interesting to many, but pretty meaningless as the year progresses. It all depends on who races early and when the data is input. Plus you need 3 races to rank and that isn’t done until the end. Last year in the couple AGs I watched, the rankings totally changed at the final count. Athletes who only had one result were at the top of the rankings all year, but never really qualified at all. So people that “ranked high” throughout the year never really counted.
I agree, they should just do a year end result. It is not like we are following a series where the athletes are in the same races.
I received this e-mail response on September 1st:
“We are currently changing our ranking system that we use. Right now we are waiting on a data conversion. In fact our managers are in Minnesota right now talking with the new company. Once we get the data conversion we will upload the races as quickly as possible. Sorry for the delay."
Isn’t that the same response we got last year??? They got the '08 rankings uploaded and gave everyone about a week to check and protest any errors before the rankings were considered final.
They need to either make the database a higher priority or change the way they market the rankings system. Something more along the lines of “we’ll get to it when we get to it.” At least then we won’t be constantly asking what the hell is taking so long.
What I can’t figure out is why so many races aren’t posted. It’s not one region or area either. Seems unlikely that race directors hold all of their results until season is over. Don’t know where the gap is happening. I did hear about the problem in 2008, but this year, hadn’t heard about any system problems.
. Don’t know where the gap is happening. I did hear about the problem in 2008, but this year, hadn’t heard about any system problems.
It happens every year. I don’t know if it is the RDs, but I have noticed that some historically come up later than others. It doesn’t seem to have any rhyme or reason. Some WTC races will come up quickly, some always late - same RD. Small, single local races seem to get reported the fastest. It all seems to work out at the end, which is the only time the rankings really tell you anything. Last year the “points” changed on some races at the end of the year. Joe went from holding 6th place all year to 1st in the final count. Of course his highest ranked races were in Nov. Go figure…
I managed to finish my entire race season before they managed to upload a single one of my (three) USAT races. The sad thing is, I chose one of the races specifically to receive an “official” ranking for the season.
I managed to finish 6 Tris and one Duathlon, and don’t have a single ranking. Glad to see USAT is on top of things.