Help us: Anyone able to get us a measuring wheel in Beijing by the end of the day tonight? We need to measure the track.

Warm temperatures and high humidity equals lower air density. It's like everyone is a bit more aerodynamic than normal, or is following a pacer, albeit a small pacer.

Still, aerodynamics make a big difference.

.6 per 400 is off by 4 meters or more.

Use the gmap pedometer to manually measure (along the kerb) some reputable tracks like Zurich, Lausanne or even Historic Hayward Field and you'll likely get 399 meters which is within 1 meter of the kerb distance. Just to demonstrate the accuracy of the method.

Then measure the Beijing track and see if it's off by more than that.

And while you're measuring the track, get a rockwell hardness reading too. There are IAAF specs for surface hardness, and it's well known that they push the limits at major championships. Remember, few tracks are near the hardness of WC and OLY tracks.

I 'm sure the Chinese would be delighted to have a random dude enter the stadium and start rolling.

You're going to end up just like that Segway driver if you're not careful.

I think the hurdles would give you clues. Their steps are pretty precise, and if you shorted the track distances I'd think you'd see a ton of hurdles being struck down.

andthistoo wrote:

And while you're measuring the track, get a rockwell hardness reading too. There are IAAF specs for surface hardness, and it's well known that they push the limits at major championships. Remember, few tracks are near the hardness of WC and OLY tracks.

Are you saying few tracks are as hard the oly tracks are supposed to be, or as hard as they actually are?

In denial much??? I have a few ARD documentaries for you to watch...

Good point except for the 110s, it would be easy to adjust start line to correct that. Actually they could also do that with the 100h.

The turns are the only place you couldn't hide it. This is a fun little conspiracy theory.

Maybe it would be easier if David Kate just downloaded the IAAF certification papers for you?

malmo wrote:

Maybe it would be easier if David Kate just downloaded the IAAF certification papers for you?

It's David Katz

malmo wrote:

Maybe it would be easier if David Kate just downloaded the IAAF certification papers for you?

Yeah, if their credibility is immutable...

kmaclam wrote:

malmo wrote:

Maybe it would be easier if David Kate just downloaded the IAAF certification papers for you?

It's David Katz

No kidding.

AKMarmoset wrote:

malmo wrote:

Maybe it would be easier if David Kate just downloaded the IAAF certification papers for you?

Yeah, if their credibility is immutable...

I'd trust the IAAF before I'd trust amateur track certifiers who can't even proofread their own message board for simple grammar.

Katz.

These Technical Officials are such hard ons that they would give their lives to catch a short track ...

I have had to retain surveyors for american track records, and they are able to survey a 400m track down to millimeters.

Simply cannot set a record without a post hoc survey if the Tech guys have any questions...

Nor would a track be accepted get a world championship if it were short ...

Its another play on the brojo 'doper driver engine' that engages more mau clicks ...

So cut it out .

Katz's Deli

Was about to attempt this but you can't see the entire track from the gmap view.

Bad Wigins wrote:

.6 per 400 is off by 4 meters or more.

Use the gmap pedometer to manually measure (along the kerb) some reputable tracks like Zurich, Lausanne or even Historic Hayward Field and you'll likely get 399 meters which is within 1 meter of the kerb distance. Just to demonstrate the accuracy of the method.

Then measure the Beijing track and see if it's off by more than that.

Egun wrote:

Katz.

These Technical Officials are such hard ons that they would give their lives to catch a short track ...

I have had to retain surveyors for american track records, and they are able to survey a 400m track down to millimeters.

.

You don't think the Chinese of all people could pay these people off? Or blackmail them? They likely have cameras in their hotel rooms.

.15 per 100 is a tiny amoutn of distance.

Now that I think about it, that's probably why Mo took that water break in the 5. If the rest of the field got DQed for a short course, he was still golden.

It doesn't explain Eaton's winning margin nearly as well as him running a legit 45.00 does.