chip timing for close races

Usually chips are used as a back-up, the head to head finish is what should have counted. This is especially true since the chip is on the shoe but in running, it is whoever's chest crosses the line first...

Why are you asking about this here? Why don't you ask somebody connected with the race?

The race director can certainly choose what method to use for awarding age group awards. The race info ahead of time likely said that chip times would be used for the age groups, so it really becomes a tough break for where you decide to stap the chip and which part of you crosses the finish first.

IF the halfM is going to USATF certify their results, then they would have to use actual traditional stop watch type timing. So if there is going to be any kind of submission to USATF of results and times, your friend can use those results to verify her finish ahead of the competitor.

But as for the hardware of 3rd place and missing the raceday award stand, she's tough outta luck.

I thought you were supposed to wear chips on both feet.

After the awards I asked the guy doing the timing. He told me of the 0.34sec difference, and said it was probably a 'chip on the trailing foot issue'. He then leaned over and told the race director of the situation. The director thought for a moment, then replied 'Go with the chip time'.

I'm posting here because I just wanted to know the rules. I didn't find anything that addresses chip timing on the USATF website.

HS manual says you wear 2 chips... and chip time prevails no matter what the visuals are. Presumably it's 2 chips in case 1 malfunctions. In any event tell your HS kids to SLIDE not LEAN !

trailrunner63 wrote:

HS manual says you wear 2 chips... and chip time prevails no matter what the visuals are. Presumably it's 2 chips in case 1 malfunctions. In any event tell your HS kids to SLIDE not LEAN !

Addendum to above is that the HS manual plainlt says that IF chips are used ( they are not mandatory for all meets, large or small ) then chips are the whole deal.

USATF rules says Gun Time is used for scoring. RD *CAN* use Net Time for Age Group awards, but only gun time is recognized for records.

Road races typically use only one chip, but XC races normally use one on each foot. Races with a chip only on one foot are prone to the "trailing foot" issue since they are scored on the CHIP crossing the line not the chest.

Traditional timing using finish place, not time, for scoring. Times are matched to finish place after the fact.

trailrunner63 wrote:

HS manual says you wear 2 chips... and chip time prevails no matter what the visuals are. Presumably it's 2 chips in case 1 malfunctions. In any event tell your HS kids to SLIDE not LEAN !

That's only for cross country, not road races.

jeb wrote:

IF the halfM is going to USATF certify their results, then they would have to use actual traditional stop watch type timing. So if there is going to be any kind of submission to USATF of results and times, your friend can use those results to verify her finish ahead of the competitor.

USATF accepts gun times via chip. In a chip race there ISN'T stop watch timing of all the finishers, just normally select timing to spot problems.

keith Stone wrote:

trailrunner63 wrote:

HS manual says you wear 2 chips... and chip time prevails no matter what the visuals are. Presumably it's 2 chips in case 1 malfunctions. In any event tell your HS kids to SLIDE not LEAN !

That's only for cross country, not road races.

True enough, for sure. HS rules for obvious reasons do not address road stuff. Good point to make though.

Generally the high school association will make a rule beforehand about what is to be used to determine place. We use chips on both ankles in Illinois, but cameras are used to determine place in close finishes becasue the chest is still the standard. This became important this year when the state champion in boys AA was determined by a lean.