I think this is where this technology holds the most promise. Wouldn't it be great to know the team scoring during an XC race and to see how it is developing? Or to see the early splits? May be have the mats at every 800m-1/2M point.
Some things to consider with the chip: A runner's finish/placing is determined by the torso, not the foot or ankle (nor the head.) A couple scenarios to consider with the transponder on one foot: A bunch finish with several finishers leaning. A runner could have his torso cross first but have the transponder on his back leg and lose several places. Or, several runners are about to cross the finish line and the 6-2 runner lifts his foot across the line a head of the torso of other runners. At this year's NCAA XC nationals: Colorado 90, Stanford 91. So these are legitament scenarios that need to be addressed. That is why the cameras and humans pulling tags won't be going away for a while. I think the chip has a great purpose in large road races where it takes some runners several minutes to cross the start line. However, somethings still have to be worked out for cross country races if it is to be used as the official timing/scoring system. One being all the transponders have to start with the gun (not a mat that has to be crossed at the start like in a road race.) Also, maybe the placing of the chip should be on the torso and not on a shoe. I believe Indiana H.S. used chips at the state meet and I think NCAA D2 or 3 used it. Illinois high schools are going to it in 2002. Illinois used to use a narrow chute at the finish (only one person at a time across the finish line), but might be going to a wide-mouth chute in 2002. Plans are for eight cameras and FinishLynx timing along with the chips. Tom Derderian wrote: > > Can this chip timing record team standing at every 5 km split and report > those standing to a press room and TV in real time? So could viewers of the > Boston Marathon, for example, know as soon as the three runners of a USATF > team pass the 5 km that that team is winning? I am imagining a team score > running across the bottom of the TV screen with the full names of USATF > teams such as Boston Athletic Association, Greater Lowell or Greater Boston > Track Club, with the time score perhaps as an average or a total so viewers > can "see" the battle develop for the men and women and people in the press > room have immediate information to report on local or USATF competition. Can > this chip system create interest in a team score and bring attention to USA > post collegiate racing? > > Tom Derderian, eager for technology
