Sports News

Marine Corps Sports Seeks Track and Field Applications for 2009 Armed Forces Team

The United States will participate in the 2009 Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) Track & Field Championship, 6-13 June, Sofia, Bulgaria. The Air Force has scheduled a pre-CISM Championship Training Camp at Ramstein Air Base, Germany 30 May through 5 June. The United States CISM Team is open to all Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and Navy participants. The CISM championship is a world class event, with past events including many of the world’s top track & field performers. To apply for this activity, candidates must submit an application through their Headquarters Sports Office. All applications are due to Air Force Sports no later than 1 April. Application must list verifiable results from sanctioned competitions, to include name, date, and location of event. Personal records in individual’s event(s) should also be noted. The final United States CISM Track & Field Team will be selected after thorough panel review of applications received from all branches of the Armed Forces. It is extremely difficult to select teams from a total “paper” evaluation of performance. It is critical that all selected athletes report to the scheduled training camp in shape. The camp is designed as a final “tune up” for the CISM championship, and to allow relay teams to practice. Any athlete reporting to the camp not in competitive shape will immediately be returned to duty station. All team members must possess a current passport, with expiration date no sooner than 9 December 2009.

SELECTION CRITERIA: Evaluation of athletes through listed performances - recent participation essential.

a. Only legitimate USATF or IAAF sanctioned competitions considered. Substantiating performance with USATF, sanctioned meet official results, or Track and Field News should be accomplished for each athlete claiming a particular performance. Only official results will be accepted – a letter from commander attesting to hand-timed track results or throw will NOT be considered. Selection panel will take into account applicant’s deployment location and location of duty station, as well as the applicant’s potential to competitively participate in multi-events. However all applicants must document ability to meet established standards.

b. Fully Automatic Timing is the standard.

c. Athletes must minimally post B Standards (see below). Selection priority will be given to athletes making the A standard, with exception described below. Candidates meeting B standard are considered for team, based on current marks as compared to the last three CISM championships in regards to realistic chances of making finals in their respective discipline.

ESTABLISHED CISM SELECTION STANDARDS: Click on the following link 2009 Track and Field Selection Criteria to view the chart that outlines the A and B CISM team standards. The top three athletes meeting the A standard will be considered first for team. Athletes meeting the B standard are also considered for team, with selection contingent upon number of applicants meeting the A standard.