This has been discussed in my state (Michigan) where ChampionChip Timing was founded (by a guy I know who grew up about 35 minutes from me).
I think the problem is that the sensor "set-up" that senses the chip and takes the split (and therefore the runner's positions en route) is very expensive. I think the setup costs like $30,000 at each checkpoint. The ChampionChip system is used at the Michigan HS State XC Finals, which are now held at Michigan International Speedway, and hosts all FOUR Divisions, both Boys and Girls. 8 races in one day. There is a sensor at the 1 mile, 2 and 3, and FINISH of course. We don't have any electronic scoreboard running during the races though. They are able to have this many sensors because of the economy of scale of all the races being run on one day, on the same course. I think they also do this as somewhat of a demo for their road racing customers. The MIS also has deep pockets to pay for something like chip timing, thanks to parking and entrance fees for the many thousands of parents, teammates and friends who watch the races. Rather than have a 5 x 2k multi-loop setup for NCAA's that (in my opinion) turns it into a track race on grass, I don't see why they couldn't have sensors set up at 4k/6k/8k or 3k/6k/9k or something, on a normal course. If the MHSAA can afford it, then the NCAA should be able to. Or should want to. I guess a wrinkle that I didn't consider is that on a "big-loop" course each split would need it's own scoreboard for the display, and it would need electricity. A multi-loop (5x2k for men, 3x2k for women) course would only need one sensor and one display. There must be a challenge that is not easily seen, because the chip-timing providers must be busting to provide it as, like you said, it would be a real breakthrough in spectating for XC. Maybe the display board is even more expensive than the mid-race sensors. /Brian McEwen -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 8:09 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: t-and-f: European Cross Country Champs I don't believe the Euro XC Champs held this past weekend in Thun, Switzerland have been mentioned yet. Ukrainian Sergey Lebed won, adding to his '98 crown and moving up one place from last year. He stopped Paulo Guerra's streak at 2 (Guerra has won it 4 times). Photos on the race website (http://www.eaa-athletics.ch/) show competitors wearing ankle bracelets which are apparently some kind of timing chip. The great thing is that because the course was 1500m, they have complete results, including team scores after every lap, on the site. I don't know if they were able to announce these team scores each lap at the race, but it would definitely make cross viewing more enjoyable. I think we need to have more courses like this in the U.S. The Vancouver, Wa course for nationals is a good 2000m loop, but team scoring at this race is almost an afterthought. We need this kind of technology at the NCAA's. sideshow
