For better or worse, win, place or show at the district and divisional meet level means something a little different now in these days of automatic qualifying standards for track and field.

It’s not only changed the game for the competitors, it’s changed it for the fans, and in some ways for the schools too. How much it has changed things is a subject of debate that is worth discussing.

It used to be, not all that long ago by the way, that athletes were required to earn a placing spot, first at the district meet level and then again at the division meet, to earn their berths in the state meets.

Now that there are standards set for each event, standards which are often met during the regular season, the pressure to perform, or in some instances even participate consistently, is taken away.

This is a great thing for the athlete, that cannot be disputed, they are in, on to the state meet, whether they compete in that event at the district or division level or not. Therein lies the rub however, as fans are now sometimes denied the opportunity to see the best athletes in their best events.

And what about the teams, don’t they lose points in the postseason meets that they would have gotten in the past when forced to qualify by placing?

They have already made state so why risk showing poorly, getting injured or why not use some other reason to not participate? Some people think it’s a good thing, and the reasoning is easy to understand.

“I think it is about taking care of the athlete,” Plains coach Jesse Jermyn said. “It protects people like the throwers who have already posted marks and shouldn’t be eliminated because they have a bad day at districts or divisonals.”

Jermyn added that he thinks the current system makes the district and divisional meets actually mean more to some athletes. “It means more to the middle tier kids, it is

their chance to advance,” he said. “To the top tier kids, it doesn’t maybe mean as much as they may be focused more on the end game.”

True enough on that point coach, and an automatic qualifier stepping aside from an event means there is another valuable placing spot open, and another chance to advance for some other deserving athlete.

From her vantage point, Thompson Falls coach Trenna Ferris thinks all the meets are vitally important, qualifying standards or not. “I believe there is still a very big focus on the district and divisional meets,” she said, adding. “Only a select few individuals ever state qualify beforehand.”

Ferris appreciates the current system and feels it takes nothing away from the sport’s big meets at season's end.

“At most schools, those athletes (the pre-qualifiers) still compete in those events at the district and divisional meets,” she said. “Standing on the podium at those meets and receiving a ribbon/ medal still means a lot.”

Hard to argue with that assessment. During my rather long career covering Montana track and field I have witnessed deserving athletes being denied entry into state meets just because they had a bad day in a district or divisional meet, and that sure doesn’t seem right either.

But it would be nice to be assured that the best athletes are competing, particularly at the district or divisional level, for all of us fans and/or sportswriters that may not get another chance to see them in action.

That’s all I’m saying, sportswriters always want it all, don’t you know?