USATFNE Championship DMR Huge Official Error costs a MAsters team an American and possibly World Record

Sounds like the officials messed up - yes.

But why did the anchor not realize how many laps his teammate had run? Isn't it also the athletes' responsibility to know these things?

Even worse, why did the guy running the 800 hand off the baton after 3 laps? Surely he knew he had a lap to go. Even if everyone else in the building lost count, an athlete running will know he has only run 600 meters. Even if his teammate was in the exchange zone he could have run around him, right?

easier said than done. in the heat of the event with 9 teams running. The athlete had only to react when seeing that the official had the 1600m guys lined up for the exchange.

The responsiblity is the athletes.... but the paid job is that of the USAT certified official.

There absolutely is no excuse

Opportunity of a lifetime? For what, a master's record? Please, master's competition is a joke. Get over it.

Glory days forever wrote:

Opportunity of a lifetime? For what, a master's record? Please, master's competition is a joke. Get over it.

Coming from a guy with a screen name Glory days forever............SMH

Some of these guys are still running reputable times

in open races.

and oh yeah, I forgot. how did you run today? thought so.

there is a difference of a has been than to a never been.

Not sure why I even am responding to your punk ass criticism. Go back to your Justin Beiber DVD, brother. You just dont get it.

First, to the person who who calls himself "glory days" but yet shows no respect for other athletes, a record is a record. If one can break one, it counts. That is why they keep them. Not having the ability to set one is no reason to disrespect the attempts of others. To the point about keeping track of the laps, when an official moves you to lane one to take the baton you take it...otherwise you get run over by a teammate, or worse get disqualified. It is unfortunate that this happened. People make mistakes. But the team is right to be frustrated that it was never aknowledged or at least apologized for.

Glory days forever wrote:

Opportunity of a lifetime? For what, a master's record? Please, master's competition is a joke. Get over it.

Went through something similar myself. 3rd leg of a 4x8 indoors. Officials sent us out after only 600 from the 2nd leg. Worst feeling I've ever had in a race when I came around after 4 laps and found out I had to go another (which was how they decided to 'fix' the problem shortly after the exchange).

Track fan wrote:

The Boston Based track Club...Eliot Track Club, primarily made up of Masters runners, were in it to try and establish and American and possible World Masters record. they put all their eggs in one basket for this opportunity to do it at New Englands. And the system failed them big time.

Ha Ha....Suckers!!

Track fan wrote:

but the paid job is that of the USAT certified official.

Do you know for a fact that this official was being paid? Where I live, certified officials rarely get paid.

Why can't the anchor miler of the DMR be like "no I aint lining up. my buddy doing the 800 has another lap you dumb f@+k."

Or maybe 'twas the curse of KipLitton!!! Hahaha

The Curse of Kip Litton: until USATF and the BAA look into Litton at the 2010 BAA 5k and 2010 BAA marathon for his performances and takes appropriate action, all important races in Boston (both track and roads) are cursed and frequent mistakes will be made by officials...

KL is back in action on Feb27...

Kip was a masters runner - curse affected masters runners - makes perfect sense!!!

Does it really matter that the official was paid or not. No!!!!

Does that excuse the error.

That officials one job was to line up the athletes for the correct handoffs. not to read splits, ring the bell for the final lap., etc...

GBTC was the first athlete instructed to line up and the others followed.

"Another Masters Team"

regardless. The Eliots still had an athlete win the Masters 800m as well as the Masters 200m.

Hopefully if your username is true. You would be more supportive of masters running.

The Curse of Kip Litton: until USATF and especially the BAA look into Litton at the 2010 BAA 5k and 2010 BAA marathon for his performances and take appropriate action, all important races in Boston (both track and roads) will be cursed and frequent mistakes will be made by officials.

It's clear the official did make a mistake, and should have offered an apology. I would bet that he feels terrible about it. While it should not matter whether or not the official was paid, keep in mind that the vast majority of officials were competitors themselves and are officiating because they love the sport and want to give back. Even the ones who do get paid could probably make a better hourly wage working at McDonalds. Many even pay their own way to go and work big meets like Trials.

While I see Brian Moore's point about the split second decision the runners involved had to make, the runners still need to take some responsibility...especially when there's a lot of lapping going on. (and yes, I have had my laps miscounted and I kept going)If you've never officiated, give it a shot. While it's not rocket science, it can be much more challenging than it appears.

Add to the mix the fact that four separate class meets took place from Fri. night through Sun. at Reggie Lewis and you probably had officials who were overtired.

Anyway, very disappointing for the guys involved but I'm sure they are not just in it for the records.

The Masters World record is quite a bit better than 11:01:

http://www.masterstrack.com/saved/records-old.html

Distance medley age 40-49: 10:19.11 Masters of L.A./USA (Peter Magill, Cornell Stephenson, Angel Roman, David Olds) 03/22/2003, Northridge, CA

This was outdoors. I don't know the indoor record, but I recall hearing it's in the 10:30 ballpark.

All good points. I totally respect all the officiating that goes on. And I have friends that are officials. It is the 'love of the sport' which keep these individuals involved.

There was a breakdown however. Was it the official lining up the athletes? or was it the gentleman with the large clipboard counting the laps, or was it the official changing the lap counter. I am sure there is some official feeling bad about it as well as the athletes and spectators that came to watch.

There was an awekwardness to the race after the last runner came across the line. Everyone just looking around. And many of the teams walked away from the track confused. The spectators as well, whom many didnt understand what had taken place.

It is an issue if these same officials were at the class meet the day before and as you put were overtired.

There was also a State Class Meet yesterday as well. SO who is to say that they were even there officiating Friday and Saturday.

But what is done is done.

It happens, I guess. Not sure I have ever witnessed it in a relay however.

I would have to add that miscounting laps in an individual event is a little different than a relay.