Exploring Gender Disparity in Marathon Qualifying Standards: BQ vs. US Olympic Trials

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Discussing the gender gap in marathon qualifying standards, users speculate on reasons for the disparity.

Regardless of your age group, the BQ standard varies between men and women by 30 minutes. The US Olympic qualifying standard, however, varies by just 19 minutes between sexes. Why does this (or does this not) make sense?
byu/end_times-8 inrunning

Summary

  • Elite level competitiveness influences the disparity.
  • Equitable representation and historical trends affect the standards.
  • Impact of age groups on the gender gap in marathon qualifying standards.
  • Historical perspectives on gender differences in marathon records.

    • User Speculations

    One user highlighted the impact of elite level competitiveness on the disparity, while another discussed the intention behind setting qualifying standards based on event capacity.

    Competitive Disparity

    Elite women’s strength in the marathon compared to men was debated, leading to a softer BQ standard for women. At the recreational level, men tend to be more competitive, influencing the gender gap.

    Elite Level Analysis

    Exploring the percentage difference in qualifying times, users found the values to be relatively fair, noting a 15% time difference for women compared to men in both standards.

    Historical Perspectives

    Some users suggested that the 30-minute gap was a convenient estimation, while others linked the Olympic Trials standard to field performance rather than gender comparisons.