Photos by Becky Holbrook, DyeStat.com/RunnerSpace.com

We at the NSAF feel that sometimes track & field crowds as a whole do not entirely embrace the beauty and excitement the field events have to offer, so we're trying something a little different this year to bring attention to them. 

To add some of this excitement to this year NON, we have added two special events to the schedule here at Hayward Field.

• A National Boys Long Jump Showcase event on Saturday, June 18th at 12:30pm PDT. 

• A National Girls Javelin Showcase event on Sunday, June 19 at 1pm PDT.

The format of these events will differ slightly from the traditional long jump and javelin competitions, respectively.  

In the Long Jump Showcase, all competitors will attempt three preliminary jumps, just as they would in a traditional event.  The finals, however, will differ slightly.  The top eight jumpers from the preliminary jumps will be selected to jump three more times in the final, but in a tournament bracket, seeded 1 - 8 based on their preliminary jumps.

In the finals, the 8th seed will compete against the 1st seed, the 7th seed against the 2nd seed, etc., in a series of one-jump matches, with the farthest jump moving on in the “championship bracket” and the lesser jump moving into the “consolation bracket” to compete for the remaining places.  The farthest jumps in quarter-final brackets will move onto the semi-final matches; then again, those with farthest jumps move onto the championship match.  The winner of the competition will come down to a 1:1 jump in the last jump of the competition.

Similarly, in the Javelin Showcase, competitors will get their three prelimary throws, just as they normally would.  Then the top eight throwers from the preliminary throws will be selected to throw three more times in the final, but in a tournament bracket, seeded 1 - 8 based on their preliminary throws. It will then proceed the same as the Boys Long Jump Showcase above.

We feel this format will be very engaging for the crowd with everyone in the stadium fixed on those mini-matches to see who moves on through the bracket.  Each competitor in this showcase event will also receive a special gift for their participation.

As with the entire meet, these events will be part of the RunnerSpace.com LIVE Webcast that is offered to all for free. Please go here to watch! https://nikeoutdoornationals.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=14188&do=videos&video_id=328588