VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam Athletics Federation has set up a table of standards to choose a team of athletes to contest the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia in November.

The standards in 46 track and field events are based on achievements at the 25th SEA Games in Laos two years ago as well as subsequent track and field events in the Southeast Asian region.

The standards were set up by former German Olympian and world athletics competitor Uwe Freimuth, now a coach and consultant to the federation.

Where Viet Nam is strong in an event, the standard requires athletes must equal or better the performance of the silver medal winner in the Laos Games, depending on the event.

For example, in the women's 800m, to qualify an athlete must to reach 2:07.66, which is 0.33secs faster than the time that took silver in Laos.

In other events the standard may be to equal the time.

In cases where the nation is not strong, the federation has proposed lesser standards. For example, in the men's 100m the standard is set at 10.50sec, which is 0.11 seconds better than the time which took the bronze medal.

The federation believes clear standards will help athletes improve and attract sponsorship.

It is estimated there are 20 Vietnamese athletes who would probably reach the standards. This number may increase after the HCM City Track and Field Open in August and the National Athletics Championship in September.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News