MidEast Region Club Race Series

MERCRS

Revised November 19, 2002

 

1. COMMITTEE

The MidEast Region Club Committee consists of 1 or 2 USA Triathlon members from each state, who voluntarily represent their given state’s Clubs, help resolve MERCRS disputes, set MERCRS guidelines, and choose races to be included in the series.  One Committee member is chosen to serve as the Committee Chair, who oversees the entire MERCRS.

 

2. RACE SERIES

The race series shall consist of 1 to 4 races in each state in the region.  Included in this race series shall be a championship event designed to bring as many clubs together as possible for head-to-head competition.  The MERCRS races are chosen by the Committee, and are all sanctioned events by USA Triathlon.  The races chosen are considered to be in good standing.

 

3. SCORING

A Club’s total score will be the sum of their top 4 races, plus the championship event.  Each individual race of the series is worth 25 points, and the championship event is worth 50 points, giving the series a total points value of 150.  At each race of the series, the first place Club will be awarded 25 points, second place club 24 points, third place club, 23 points, etc.  (Double points at the Championship Event, i.e. 50, 48, 46, …etc).  In the event that the MERCRS ends in a tie, then a tiebreaker will be used to determine the overall champion:

1.)  Score sheet total at the Championship event .

2.)  Number of events that the club attended during the season.

 

4. SCORESHEETS

Each Club is responsible for submitting a scoresheet for their club (by the club president or his appointee).  A scoresheet is comprised of three elements:  Distance Points, Participation Points, and Performance Points. 

Distance points will be established before the first race of the season.  (Distance Points Spreadsheet)

A.            Distance Points = 10 points for each 50 miles driven to the race site.

0       -                 50 miles                 =  0     distance points,

50     -                 100 miles                = 10   distance points,

100   -                 150 miles                = 20   distance points,

150   -                 200 miles                 = 30   distance points,

200   -                 250 miles                 = 40   distance points,

250   -                300 miles                 = 50   distance points,   etc.

 

B.                Participation Points = NumberOfFinishers (10 max) times RaceType.

RaceType  =          1 for Sprint Triathlons.                  (Top amateur’s finish time less than 1 ½ hour)

RaceType  =          2 for Olympic Triathlons.                  (Top amateur’s finish time less than 2 ½ hours)

RaceType  =          3 for Long Triathlons.                  (Top amateur’s finish time less than 5 hours)

RaceType  =          4 for Ultra Triathlons.                (Top amateur’s finish time exceeds 5 hours)

RaceType  =          1 for all Duathlons.

A racer receiving a DQ or a DNF does not count as a finisher.

 

C.                Performance Points = an individual’s performance relative to their age group.

Overall Race Recognition                 = 5 Performance Points                     (Top finishers overall)

Age Group Recognition                          = 4 Performance Points                     (Top Age Group finishers)

Top 50 Percentile in Age Group     = 3 Performance Points                     (Top half in Age Group)

Race Finisher                                  = 2 Performance Points                     (Crossed the finish line)

Performance Points will always be the highest possible for instances of small age group results.  For example, if an individual finishes third in an age group that has three entries, then the Performance Points = 4 for that individual.  (not = 2 for finishing in third place with 3 entries)

 

D.            For MERCRS Score sheet purposes, AGE GROUP is considered to be the classifications used by Race Directors for awards.  Since Race Directors do not all use the same group classifications, the MERCRS Scoresheets shall be adapted to each Race Director’s classification choices.  So for a MERCRS Score sheet, any classification of racers that is used by a Race Director for awards is considered an AGE GROUP.  All Clydesdale/Athena/Masters/Open/Elite/Team/MountainBike, etc. are considered separately if the Race Director provides awards for these groups separately.  These ‘groups’ or ‘classes’ of racers will be considered as a separate AGE GROUP for the MERCRS score sheets.  Team Entry:  A club that finishes a race in a Team Entry Category shall be scored as an individual finish.  All the members of this Team Entry must be a Club Member.  For example, if a particular Club has 3 individuals compete as a team in an Olympic Distance Triathlon, they would receive Participation Points = 2 and Performance Points based on how they finished in the Team Competition.  Multiple Venues:  If a race venue sponsors multiple distance options,  (i.e. Olympic Race and Sprint Race and Duathlon), then the Club Scoresheet should include the finishers from all the venues on a single scoresheet.  The participation points (10 max) applies to the entire venue, not to each race in the venue.

 

5. PRIZES

The MidEast Region of USA Triathlon has set a budget each year for the MERCRS prizes.  The Club Committee Chair, or an appointee, arranges the prizes and the distribution thereof.

 

6. CLUBS

Clubs must be within the MidEast Region, and be registered with the MidEast Region Club Committee and USA Triathlon.  Each club is responsible for turning in a scoresheet after each race that they participate in.  Each club must be sure that finishers listed on their scoresheet are not also shown as a finisher for another club.  If the Club Committee finds this to be the case, then that individuals results will not be counted until the individual declares his club loyalty.  (A person cannot be competing for more than one Club at a time.)

 

7. EVENT CANCELLATIONS

If an event cannot be completed due to rain, or other unforeseen circumstances, the MERCRS scoresheets shall be recorded with provisions as follows:

1.                    If any MERCRS multisport race is replaced with an alternate multisport race, then the published race results will be accepted and score sheets can be completed as shown in item 4. SCORING.

2.                    If a multisport race is replaced with a single-sport race (i.e. run only), then the published race results will be accepted, and score sheets can be completed as shown in item 4. SCORING, and the RaceType shall equal 1.

3.                    If the Championship Event is cancelled completely, then score sheets will be required, but the 50 potential Club Points will come from a clubs 5th best Regular Series Race.  (Specifically, the Club Points will be doubled for the 5th best finish of the season for each club).  The Club must be present at the event.

4.                    If a regular season multisport race is cancelled completely, then no score sheets will be accepted for that race, and no Club Points will be awarded for that race.

5.                    Rules 1 thru 4 above are intended for races that are downgraded or cancelled due to weather.  The MERCRS will not adopt itself to races that are rescheduled to another date.

 

8. SCORESHEET DEADLINES

To ensure that all Score sheets are submitted in a timely manner, all Score sheets must be sent to the Club Committee Chairman no more than 15 days after the race results are posted.  Late scoresheets will be given partial credit up to 30 days after the race results are posted.  Partial credit is awarded by first awarding the applicable points to each club (25 points for first, 24 points for second, etc) and then awarding the late scoresheet.  Scoresheets received after 30 days will receive no credit.

 

9. MERCRS RACES

2003 MERCRS                                                                    2002 MERCRS             

May 17   Galena IL                                                            May 18                   Galena IL           

May 17   Terre Haute IN                                                                May 18                   Terre Haute IN

May 31                Bloomington IL                                                   Jun 1                      Bloomington IL

Jun 8      Ann Arbor MI                                                               Jun 9                      Ann Arbor MI

Jun 14                Shelbyville KY                                     {new}

Jun 15                Kalamazoo MI

Jun 15                Springfield IL                                                      Jun 16                   Springfield IL

Jun 28   Warsaw IN                                                            Jun 22                   Warsaw IN

Jun 29   Wendy's Columbus OH                                      Jun 30                   Wendy’s Columbus OH

                                                Jul 7                       Kalamazoo MI

Jul 12    Muncie IN                                                            Jul 13                    Muncie                IN

Jul 20    East Fork State Park OH          {new}

Jul 26    Great Lakes Triathlon MI                           Jul 27                    Great Lakes Triathlon MI

Jul 27                Louisville KY                                       {new}                Jul 28                    Delaware State Park OH                  {drop}

Aug 2     Tom Sawyer State Park KY                                Aug 3                     Tom Sawyer State Park KY

Aug 10   Sylvania OH                                                          Aug 11                   Sylvania OH

Aug 16   Three Rivers MI                                                              Aug 18                   Three Rivers MI             

Aug 24   Mrs. T's Chicago IL                                            Aug 25                   Mrs. T’s Chicago IL

Sep 7                Indianapolis IN                                                    Sep 8                      INDIANAPOLIS IN

Sep 20    Mohican Pineman                                {new}