I'm not a chip expert, but I recently worked with a champion chip crew at a large marathon. The race timing was started by the gun and individuals were recorded as they crossed the finish mat. The official results were "gun times". A few complained that Boston accepts "chip times" and they should have been credited with faster times. The chip only carries the runners ID. It does not need to be "started" when the runner crosses the start line. That still leaves the problem of separating close finishes. If more powerful mats were used, the chip could probably be attached to the torso, but then some folks would get worried about electromagnetic radiation (transmission line syndrome). Ed Prytherch
Mike wrote - . 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
