Stop Invalidating Female Accomplishments in Co-Ed Marathons!
- by: C. Wolverton
- recipient: International Association of Athletics Federations
Due to a recent decision by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), women runners will no longer be eligible to set world records when participating in events alongside men. This decision will affect current and future records, invalidating British runner Paula Radcliffe's 2003 record set during the co-ed London Marathon.
IAAF justifies this decision by the fact that male pacemakers improve female running times by two full minutes. However, no woman other than Paula Radcliffe has come within three minutes of her world record.
All major marathons worldwide hire pacemakers to run a portion of the race to keep participants motivated and up to speed. Nullifying women's accomplishments in light of male pacemakers is disrespectful and discouraging to female athletes.
Please sign the petition to reverse the decision to invalidate female world records in co-ed running events.
We the undersigned are concerned about the recent decision to prevent females from setting world records when participating alongside men in running events. While we acknowledge that male pacemakers can increase female running times by two minutes, many marathons hire pacemakers to motivate and set the speed for all runners, regardless of gender.
It is unfair to invalidate women's accomplishments beside men when male runners also have pacemakers. Nullifying current and future records set during co-ed events is discouraging and disrespectful to female athletes.
Please reconsider your decision to invalidate female running records set while running alongside men. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider this petition.
