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Masters Long Distance Running Official Timing at Long Distance Running Events Informational Review by Bill Quinlisk This document was created for the USA Track & Field (USATF) Masters Long Distance Running (LDR) Executive Committee and represents an analysis of rules, procedures and practices for official timing at LDR events. It includes an examination of USATF, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Federation of High School (NFHS) rules that govern cross country and road racing in the USA. Part I - USA Track & Field 2013 USATF Competition Rules define four methods of official timing: Hand Timing, Fully Automatic Timing (FAT), Video Timing and Transponder Timing. (See USATF Rule 165, Timing) Most non-stadia events, i.e., road races and cross country races, currently use Transponder (“Chip”) timing as their primary timing system. There are many misconceptions circulating in the long distance running community about the efficacy of Transponder timing. It is important to note that Transponder (“Chip”) times are usually not considered Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) since most often the system is not started automatically. If a human being has to push a button to start the clock, then the system is not “fully automatic”. Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems have not shown 100% accuracy in capturing all finishers. Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems have not shown 100% accuracy in capturing correct finish order and finish time consistent with the rules’ requirements. (See USATF Rule 165.10.a) Given these limitations, then why do most non-stadia events use Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems? The answer is that while Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems are not foolproof, they do capture large numbers of finishers fairly accurately. 99% accurate capture rates are not unusual for races with 1000+ finishers. We just need to remember that Transponder (“Chip”) systems are not perfect. Back-up systems are necessary. Currently, best practices at USATF LDR Championship events as described in USATF LDR Championship Guidelines and USATF Competition Rules require three independent timing systems. Transponder (“Chip”) timing is required as the primary timing system to establish a baseline recorded listing for both place and time of all competitors. Examples of acceptable backup systems include: a second set of timing mats/wire receivers, a head-on camera system and the newer side transponder receivers/side wire receivers. Official timers at the finish line (an actual person with a timing device) incorporating select timing procedures are used by most professional timing services providers as an additional quality

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Masters Long Distance Running

Official Timing at Long Distance Running Events

Informational Review by Bill Quinlisk

This document was created for the USA Track & Field (USATF) Masters Long Distance Running (LDR) Executive Committee and represents an analysis of rules, procedures and practices for official timing at LDR events. It includes an examination of USATF, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and National Federation of High School (NFHS) rules that govern cross country and road racing in the USA.

Part I - USA Track & Field 2013 USATF Competition Rules define four methods of official timing: Hand Timing, Fully Automatic Timing (FAT), Video Timing and Transponder Timing. (See USATF Rule 165, Timing) Most non-stadia events, i.e., road races and cross country races, currently use Transponder (“Chip”) timing as their primary timing system. There are many misconceptions circulating in the long distance running community about the efficacy of Transponder timing. It is important to note that Transponder (“Chip”) times are usually not considered Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) since most often the system is not started automatically. If a human being has to push a button to start the clock, then the system is not “fully automatic”. Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems have not shown 100% accuracy in capturing all finishers. Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems have not shown 100% accuracy in capturing correct finish order and finish time consistent with the rules’ requirements. (See USATF Rule 165.10.a) Given these limitations, then why do most non-stadia events use Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems? The answer is that while Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems are not foolproof, they do capture large numbers of finishers fairly accurately. 99% accurate capture rates are not unusual for races with 1000+ finishers. We just need to remember that Transponder (“Chip”) systems are not perfect. Back-up systems are necessary. Currently, best practices at USATF LDR Championship events as described in USATF LDR Championship Guidelines and USATF Competition Rules require three independent timing systems. Transponder (“Chip”) timing is required as the primary timing system to establish a baseline recorded listing for both place and time of all competitors. Examples of acceptable backup systems include: a second set of timing mats/wire receivers, a head-on camera system and the newer side transponder receivers/side wire receivers. Official timers at the finish line (an actual person with a timing device) incorporating select timing procedures are used by most professional timing services providers as an additional quality

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control. Perhaps the most important addition to the timing services arsenal of redundancy has been the use of a digital line-scan camera now mandated at the finish line at all USATF LDR Championship events to record and examine any and all close finishes. What defines a “close finish in need of further review” is a debatable point. Due to inconsistencies in transponder timing system captures, it is suggested that a review of the entire race verifying the finishing order of all championship runners be made using the finish line digital line-scan camera system prior to posting preliminary results. This is especially important where prize money, media reporters, selection for international teams, team scoring based on place, and different age groups awards, e.g., Master age divisions, are involved. Digital line-scan camera images can also be important where record performance verification may be needed. Most Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) systems common to Track & Field meets use a digital line-scan camera. While use of a digital line-scan camera at the finish line of LDR events will probably not satisfy the definition of fully automatic timing since it will not be started automatically, it will be extremely useful in verifying finish order, finish time and providing visual evidence of both. USATF Competition Rule 165 details the specs for digital line-scan camera systems. Of course using a finish line digital line-scan camera to verify all finishers can be problematic when large numbers of finishers and high finish densities are involved. The use of a head-on camera system can also be useful in identification of finishers especially in conjunction with the use of the digital line-scan camera. Traditional family-style video cameras and older video camera timing systems may be used as a backup timing system at non-championship events. They are not recommended nor are they used for championship events because these video systems have not shown complete adherence with the requirements of USATF Rule 165. It is unfortunate that many Timing Service Providers do not automatically incorporate the use of a finish line digital line-scan camera for LDR events. Many rely solely on the transponder times to generate their results. Additional costs, lack of expensive equipment, status quo practices and user biases have relegated the use of the finish line digital line-scan cameras to Track & Field events. USATF “official” times for LDR events should always be rounded to the next longer full second even if the timing is FAT. (See USATF Rule 165.11.c) Raw timing data may be read to 1/1000 or 1/100 or 1/10 of a second but the rule says that in LDR events only times rounded to the next longer full second are “official”. While Competition Rules allow times to be published to 1/10th of a second to illustrate time differences between finishers, it is suggested that this exception be reserved only for instances where two or more runners would be listed with the same time when rounded to the next longer full second. Publishing these times parenthetically to the nearest 1/10th of a second can delineate place differences. Thus, the timer is demonstrating that the runners involved are not tied in place even though they may have the same “official” time, i.e., rounded to the next longer full second. It is suggested that result providers use these rounded “official” times in any and all further calculations, i.e., age grading. The rule of thumb should be “round, then calculate”. Unfortunately, most current timing software programs are using the raw data times from transponder timing systems to calculate age graded results. This creates a situation where the age graded digits are more significant than the “official” time results. Net times, defined as the elapsed time between an individual’s transponder generated start and finish times, shall not be used for any purpose other than USATF Masters LDR records under current USATF Competition Rules. (See Rule 165.16.h.note) Net times should not appear on the results for LDR Championship events unless necessary to reference a possible American Masters LDR record-setting performance. Currently, by rule, net times should not be used for determining award winners. Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems that operate based on synchronizing the start and finish times with a time of day should not list these times of day on race results. Many road races, including races with USATF sanctions, are currently using net times to determine award winners in apparent contradiction of USATF Rule 165. I feel that race directors of non-championship events should be given the option to use

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net times as they wish. I suggest that USATF Rule 165 be amended similar to USATF Rule 144.3.b regarding the use of portable listening devices. Suggested language could state that “the Games Committee for an LDR non-championship event may allow the use of net times for determining awards, medals, or prize money. However, net times at LDR championship events shall not be used for any purpose other than USATF Masters LDR records”. If awards are based solely on gun time, then older runners seeking age group awards or age graded awards will be forced to seek the front row or front corral of the start line. At events with large fields, this may place older and possibly slower runners in dangerous situations early in the race. Championship events are about head-to-head competition and this need drives the use of gun time. Non-championship events should be allowed to choose their method of awarding prizes (gun time or net time) in the interest of safety and race logistics. Of course, non-championship races should announce their choice in all pre-race materials well in advance of the event. A word about Master age group records: While USATF Rule 265.10 allows the use of “properly rounded net times provided by transponders for Master LDR age group record purposes”; it is unclear whether or not just this single time is all that will be necessary for a record performance application to be accepted. There is an apparent contradiction in using just this single primary system time. USATF Rule 265.1.a states that “no non-winning performance in a road race shall be accepted as a record unless it can be verified (independently of the primary timing systems) that a specific time was recorded for that particular runner”. This is problematic given that Master runners rarely win large races. So, a second time must be recorded for each and every possible record performer for Master LDR record purposes. When using select timing as the only back-up system it would be next to impossible to separate each and every possible Master runner who may be setting a record from the masses of finishers in most large road races. The current USATF Road Race Performance Record Application Form also calls for a primary time and three other times for both the male and female race winners unless there is a fully automatic timing system. Remember, transponder/chip times are not usually considered fully automatic since, in most cases, they are not started automatically. Thus, the transponder system would only be considered the primary time on the record application form. Backup systems would be needed to produce the three additional times for the race winners. These backup times could be hand watches, select time machines, a second set of independent transponder mats or wire receivers, or a finish line digital line-scan camera. Several of these backup systems would also satisfy the second verified time requirement necessary for Masters LDR age group record purposes. An open corral finish chute diagram for cross country and road races should be added to the USATF website at: http://www.usatf.org/groups/officials/resources/long-distance-running/. This diagram would be in addition to the traditional multi-lane finish chute diagram that is currently posted on that site. Major road races and championship cross country races are predominantly using transponder timing, finish line digital line-scan cameras and head-on cameras. They do not employ the use of the traditional bib tear tags on a spindle system as either a primary or back-up recording system. Attempting to keep runners in their finishing order after the finish line is not needed if other timing/recording systems have replaced the traditional bib pull tags. The open corral chute requires fewer officials and workers in the chute and allows medical personnel better direct access to runners in need of assistance. It also allows runners to decelerate after the finish line at their own pace and prevents back-ups. With the traditional multi-lane chute runners are squeezed into a single alley generating collisions of runners of different finishing speeds. Also, officials attempting to maintain finish order are dependent on the cooperation of tired runners, runners in need of medical assistance and runners finishing at different speeds. The open corral system allows runners to finish at any point along the entire width of the finish line/timing mat and maintain a straight running line past the finish line, decelerating at their own pace.

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USATF Youth Cross Country: Unfortunately, the USATF Timing and Placing Rules for National Youth Cross Country Championships do not mirror the best practices for both Open and Masters cross country championships. USATF Youth Rule 304.4 indicates that “Computerized transponders may be used to record the finish place of a runner in cross country. A bib transponder or two transponders per runner, one attached to each shoe or foot, must be used. With this condition, the finish place recorded by the chip system shall be the official order of finish for the runners in the competition. The referee has the authority to rule on matters of a timing irregularity or other irregularities”. USATF Rule 304.4 is similar to current High School Rule. (See National Federation of High Schools - NFHS Rule 9.3.3) Please see the discussion below in the NFHS section of this article pertaining to the shortcomings of this procedure. In defense of the Youth Committee, at least this rule allows the Referee some discretion. Of course, I wonder that if or more correctly when the transponder timing system incorrectly places finishers, it would be considered an “irregularity”? In summary: USATF best practices, as defined above, are used at most major road races and championship cross country races. The use of redundant systems has proven their worth many times over when unforeseen problems arise. Transponder (“Chip”) timing systems are not always 100% accurate in capturing all finishers and verifying correct finish order and time. There must be back-ups. The use of a finish line digital line-scan camera is a must to properly verifying finish order. In cross country races, correct place is much more important than time. My Opinion: The proliferation and commercialization of road racing has raised cause for concern among those who govern the sport and protect the interests and rights of runners. Slim distinction can be drawn between motives of charity events and for-profit event directors. Both take money from the sport with only a relatively small immediate return to the runner/consumer. Millions of dollars are being produced from road races. Millions of dollars are not being returned to the sport or to the runners from these private road race event directors. USATF sanctions have been obtained by countless road races indicating that USATF rules will be followed. However, there is little, if any, follow-up to the actual adherence to the USATF rules. The laissez-faire attitude of the governing body in this free market economy that is road race production has not benefitted the running community other than providing a very wide variety of events in both quantity and quality. “Caveat emptor” or “let the buyer beware” governs the marketplace. I suggest that the governing body assume its responsibility and develop a better system of post-race analysis to ensure best practices and adherence to rules to the benefit of runners and the sport of road racing. Penalties should be put in place for race directors who knowingly violate USATF rules in a sanctioned event. Many transponder timing companies have sprung up around the country to fill the entry/timing/results needs generated by the proliferation of road races. Unfortunately, some of these companies have been allowed to “grow sloppy” with their services. I say “allowed to grow sloppy” because it is the national governing body, the event directors and local organizing committees who have been lax in not pressing these companies for quality services. Of course, in the quest for maximization of profits, timing companies have been known to overextend themselves and attempt to provide services for many events on the same weekend or sometimes even the same day. What kind of quality will a race receive from a timing company that arrives an hour before the race and is gone as soon as they can clean up after the last runner has finished? We actually had a timing company at a National Masters LDR

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Championship ask, as the last runner crossed the finish line, what results were needed and how they should be formatted. They had been sent the scoring and results requirements months in advance but had not looked at them because they were too busy. This happened at a USATF National LDR Championship. What kind of service can a local road race expect? Too often, I have seen race budgets dictate the level and quality of entry/timing/result services. Timing companies will provide services to the extent that they are paid to provide services. Start mats, split mats, back-up cameras, instant online results, custom formatted results and a host of other “add-ons” have become extra services available on demand for an extra fee. There needs to be a best practices minimum standard that race directors can require timing service companies to provide in order to ensure that basic rules and guidelines are followed and runners and race directors are not short-changed. For example: I have seen runners approach a timer after a road race and indicate that their name is missing from the results. For whatever reason – damaged transponder, runner error, timer error – their transponder “chip” did register as they crossed the finish line. The timer asks for their basic information – bib number and finish time – and then proceeds to enter the data in the “official results” without any review of the facts. Did the runner really run that time? There may be a select time sheet available and if lucky the missing runner may be on it. Even if select times are available usually there are often no other back-ups – no digital line-scan camera – too expensive if the timing company even owns one and besides those are for track meets not road races; no head-on camera – an extra that the race didn’t pay for – again, too expensive. The accuracy of the results takes a back seat to satisfying the complaining runner and the runner’s self-reported time becomes “official” with no annotation. Many races even advertise a post-event online contact person to “handle” problems – usually adding missing finishers due to runner or operator generated transponder error. These runners – and their times – are routinely added to “official” results based solely on the runner’s report. Sloppy practices should be stopped. I suggest that all entry/timing/results expectations should be contracted in advance and timing service providers held responsible for any shortcomings. Monetary penalties can be written into an agreement the same as the fees for all of the “extra” services. Perhaps our national governing body can develop a standardized agreement for race directors to share with their timing service providers. If it is not too late, I suggest that USATF develop a certification process for Timing/Results providers. In the past, real people who were USATF certified LDR officials manned the finish line. These officials studied the rules, took a test and were usually certified by USATF or at least by the NFHS. Today, certified officials have been replaced by timing mats and computer operators. The computer operator may or may not be a certified official. They may or may not have knowledge of LDR rules. Does this fall under the province of the USATF Officials Committee or the Road Running Technical Council or both? Jurisdictional squabbles should not prevent the development of a certification process immediately. In order for a road racing record to be approved, the course needs to be certified by an official USATF course measurer. Rules demand a certified course for records and championship competition. Yet, there are no rules or procedures that govern the competency of the individual Timing/Results provider. I also suggest the use of National Technical Officials (See USATF Rule 115) to assist the Referee at National LDR Championship events. In addition the LDR Division of USATF should examine the possible use of additional certified officials at all National LDR Championship events to serve as the Photo Finish Operator the Chief Timer, the Photo Finish Judge and the Transponder Timing Judge (See USATF Rule 118 and Rule 128).

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Part II - NCAA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country In NCAA Rule 8, Article 7, governing Cross Country races, there are three methods of timing referenced: Rule 8.7.d. Manual timing system – The time recorder shall be responsible for recording the time of each runner at the finish, in full seconds, as called out as each finisher crosses the finish line. Rule 8.7.e. Fully automatic timing (FAT) system – When this system is being used for official meet results, the times of all competitors shall be determined by viewing the official film (sic) from the FAT camera and reproduced on an official printout. Times shall be recorded to the slower 1/10th second. For meets in which congestion at the finish area may arise, finish line filming is recommended. Rule 8.7.f. Transponder (chip) system – When this system is being used for the official meet results, a ranked order list of times of all competitors shall be determined by reading the printout produced by the system, and recorded to the slower 1/10th second. The ranked order of competitors separated by not more than 1/10th second shall be verified. Rule 8.4.4. The use of a finish corral to aid in meet administration is recommended at all cross country meets in which the transponder (chip) system is used. My Opinion: Actual procedures used at most NCAA Regional and National Cross Country Championships, per the NCAA Championships’ Guidelines, incorporate the use of a digital line-scan camera to determine place in conjunction with the transponder timing system as the primary timing system. This is appropriate since place is much more important than time in cross country events. The finish line digital line-scan camera is automatically used to review each and every finisher for correct placing. Note that NCAA Rule 8.7.f only requires verification of competitors separated by 1/10th second when using transponder systems as the primary timing system. This is problematic as transponder timing systems have not shown this degree of accuracy all of the time. However, Championship Guidelines and actual practice usually require a complete review of all finishers. The transponder system should be used to generate a preliminary order of finish. The official order of finish should be generated only after a complete review of all finishers using the finish line digital line-scan camera. The use of a video camera system (as differing from a FAT camera) is not recommended for this function. These NCAA Cross Country Championship finish line procedures are manageable due to the relatively small size of the races. Most NCAA Cross Country Championship events (Regionals and Nationals) are limited to two races, one of each gender, with only 200-400 finishers. The use of the digital line-scan camera to verify placing does not necessarily imply that the timing system is actually Fully Automatic Timing. Remember, FAT is defined such that the timing equipment must be fully automatic. It must be started automatically by the discharge of the Starter's pistol or authorized starting device at the instance of the flash/smoke from the charge, or it must be synchronized with the start signal, and it must record the finish times automatically when any part of the competitor's body or torso (as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, hands, legs, or feet) reaches the perpendicular plane of the nearer edge of the finish line. The overall delay between the report from the pistol or the initial sound of the electronic tone and the start of the timing system must be constant and equal to or less than 0.001 of a second. Transponder timing systems as used in most cross country events are not defined as FAT since they are usually not started automatically.

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Part III - National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) NFHS rules governing LDR events for High School competition cover only cross country races since road races are not part of the defined NFHS High School competitions. Under NFHS rules, Fully Automatic Timing (FAT) is defined as equipment that is started automatically by a starting device and shall record the finish time automatically when a runner’s torso breaks the perpendicular plane of the nearer edge of the finish line. Timing devices that operate automatically at either the start or the finish, but not both, shall not qualify as FAT and shall be considered to produce hand times. All hand times shall be rounded up to the slower one-tenth of a second. NFHS rules allow “computerized transponder/chip” timing systems to be used to establish the official order of finish in cross country races. If a “computerized transponder/chip” timing system is used then runners must wear a bib transponder or two transponder/chips per runner, one attached to each shoe. Under NFHS rules, cross country competitors finish when their torso breaks the plane of the finish line “when using hand- or picture-based timing systems”. NFHS rules also allow the use of manual timing in conjunction with finish judges for cross country races. My Opinion: The NFHS rules that define acceptable timing in high school cross country races are inconsistent with the realities of the current transponder/chip timing system technology. To allow a transponder/chip system to solely determine the official order of finish in cross country races is contrary with the performance standards of such systems. Errors in finish placing will occur. Omission of finishers will occur. “Computerized transponder/chip” timing systems are not considered Fully Automatic Timing since either; they are not started automatically, and/or they have not shown 100% accuracy in capturing all finishers and/or they have not shown 100% accuracy in capturing correct finish order and correct times - even with bib transponders or one chip on each shoe. When using a “Computerized transponder/chip” timing system as the sole system to establish the order of finish in a high school cross country race the NFHS rules book does not apply the “torso” finish standard. This may lead to runners sliding into the finish in the belief that their chips on their shoes may “beat” another runner as the transponder/chip timing system defines the order of finish. It is recommended that in addition to the use of a transponder/chip timing system, officials use a finish line digital line-scan camera to examine any and all “close finishes” - finishes within a delta time difference yet to be determined. (BTW – there is a great need for an independent examination of transponder timing system performances to demonstrate the accuracy/inaccuracy of the various systems– what a great project for a college or university.) It is further suggested that a review of the entire race verifying finish order be made using the finish line digital line-scan camera prior to posting initial results. This is especially important in cross country races where final team scoring may be separated by a single finish place. If a finish line digital line-scan camera is not available when using a “Computerized transponder/chip” timing system, then NFHS rules should consider the possibility of allowing finish judges to determine the correct order of all close finishes thus overruling the transponder system. Timing to one-tenth of a second in cross country when using a “Computerized transponder/chip” timing system is probably not a correct use of significant figures. Considering all of the variables inherent in cross country racing and timing, time recorded to one-tenth of a second cannot be that accurate. However, since time is not of primary importance in cross country, the use of one-tenths to separate finishers in the results is probably not a major problem.

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NFHS Rules applicable to Cross Country Timing Rule 3.8.2: A timing device which operates automatically at either the start or the finish, but not both, shall not qualify as FAT. Such devices shall be considered to produce manual times. Rule 3.8.4: When fully automatic timing (FAT) is used, time shall be recorded in one-hundredths of a second. Rule 3.8.3: However, unless it is a fully automatic system, times…shall be rounded up to the next tenth of a second. Rule 9.3.2: A competitor finishes a cross country race when the torso of the runner breaks the plane of the finish line when using hand- or picture-based timing systems. Rule 9.3.3: Computerized transponders/chips may be used to record the finish of a runner in cross country. A bib transponder or two transponders/chips per runner, one attached to each shoe, must be used. When transponders/chips are used, the official order of finish for the runners is that recorded by the transponder/chips.

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Appendix A 2013 USATF Competition Rules applicable to LDR Timing

RULE 165 - TIMING

1. Four methods of timing are official, hand timing, fully automatic timing, video timing, and transponder timing as set forth in this Rule. A timing device that operates automatically at either the start or finish, but not at both, shall be considered to produce neither hand times nor fully automatic times and should not be used to obtain official times.

2. Where practical, fully automatic timing should be used. Such times shall be the official times for those events unless the Referee determines that the equipment is not operating properly.

3. When hand times must be used, timing procedures shall be governed by sections 5 through 8. When properly functioning fully automatic timing is available, timing procedures shall be governed by paragraphs 9 through 12.

4. The time shall be taken from the flash/smoke of the pistol or approved apparatus to the moment at which any part of the competitor's body (i.e., the "torso," as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, hands, legs, or feet) reaches the perpendicular plane of the nearer edge of the finish line. NOTE: Times for races conducted partly or entirely outside the stadium may be published to 1/10 of a second to illustrate time differences between finishers, but only times rounded to the next longer full second shall be official.

5. Hand Timing Hand times shall be taken by manually operated electronic devices with digital readouts. If the fully automatic timing system was not automatically started with the pistol, or suffered a loss of operation during the race, but did accurately record the finish, the hand times should be adjusted using information from a fully automatic timing system, if such information is available.

6. If two of the Official Timers' watches agree and the third disagrees, the time shown by the two shall be the official time. If all three watches disagree, the time shown by the watch recording the middle time (not the average of all three) shall be the official time. If for any reason only two watches record the time of an event, and they fail to agree, the longer time of the two shall be accepted as the official time.

7. A. For all hand-timed races on the track, unless the time is an exact 0.1 second, the time shall be

converted and recorded to the next longer 0.1 second, e.g., 10.11 shall be recorded as 10.2. For races partly or entirely outside the stadium, unless the time is an exact whole second, the time shall be converted and recorded to the next longer whole second, e.g., 2:09:44.3 shall be recorded as 2:09:45.

B. If the hand of the watch stops between two lines indicating the time, the longer time shall be accepted.

C. When the time displayed on electronic, manually operated digital timers includes decimal place values greater than zero, the recorded time shall be the displayed time rounded up to comply with the provisions of 7(a), above. E.g., for the track, a displayed time of 1:45.209 shall be recorded as 1:45.3 and a displayed time of 47.31 shall be recorded as 47.4. For outside the stadium, a displayed time of 2:09:44.001 or 2:09:44.01 shall be recorded as 2:09:45, a displayed time of 31:00.00 is rounded to and recorded as 31:00 and a displayed time of 31:00.01 is rounded to and recorded as 31:01.

8. When possible, Timers shall be placed at least 5m back from and in line with the finish on an elevated platform.

9. Fully Automatic Timing. A. If possible, there should be at least two fully automatic timing devices of a similar make in operation,

one from each side of the track at the finish line. At the Open and Junior National Championships, at least two fully automatic timing devices of a similar type must be used and the placement should be with at least one on each side of the track at the finish line. Preferably, the two timing devices should

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be technically fully separated, i.e., supported by different power systems and recording and relaying the report of the Starter’s pistol, or approved starting apparatus, by separate equipment or cables.

B. Where two or more fully automatic timing devices are used, one should be designated as the official one before the start of the competition. The times and places from the other device(s) or camera(s) should not be considered unless there is reason to doubt the accuracy of the official device or if there is a need to use the supplementary images to resolve uncertainties in the finishing order or times.

10. A. The timing equipment must be fully automatic and certified to be accurate prior to the competition.

It must be started automatically by the discharge of the Starter's pistol or authorized starting device at the instance of the flash/smoke from the charge, or it must be synchronized with the start signal, and it must record the finish times automatically when any part of the competitor's body or torso (as distinguished from the head, neck, arms, hands, legs, or feet) reaches the perpendicular plane of the nearer edge of the finish line. The overall delay between the report from the pistol or the initial sound of the electronic tone and the start of the timing system must be constant and equal to or less than 0.001 of a second.

B. In the event that the fully automatic timing devices malfunction at the start of a race, the race should be recalled. A Recall Starter should be assigned for this purpose. See Rule 129.

C. If the fully automatic timing device is not started automatically in accordance with subparagraph (a), the image should so indicate automatically. In such case, the times recorded on the image will not, under any circumstances, be considered official. The image may, however, be used as a valid support to determine placing and to adjust time intervals between runners. See Rule 165.5.

D. In all fully automatic systems, the picture production and the time system shall be synchronized generating a uniformly marked time scale graduated in 0.01 of a second. The photo finish system must be able to produce a printed picture that shows the time for each runner.

11. Recording Times: A. Fully automatic timing for races on the track up to and including 10,000 meters shall be read to 0.001

of a second, when possible. When the last digit is zero, that digit shall be dropped and the official time recorded in hundredths of seconds. Otherwise, the time shall be rounded to the next longer hundredth of a second and so recorded. When the fully automatic timing device cannot be read to 0.001 of a second, it shall be read and recorded in hundredths of seconds, rounded up to the next longer hundredth when the time is between hundredths indicators.

B. The result for fully automatic timed races on the track longer than 10,000 meters shall be read in 0.01 of a second and shall be converted to the next longer 0.1 of a second and recorded in tenths of a second, e.g., for the 20,000 Meters Run, 59:26.32 shall be recorded as 59:26.4.

C. The times for races conducted partly or entirely outside the stadium (off the track) shall be read in 0.01 of a second and shall be converted to the next longer whole second, i.e., for the Marathon, 2:09:44.32 shall be recorded as 2:09:45.

12. Any adjustments to hand timing will be accomplished by using time interval information from the fully automatic timing system and will be recorded in accordance with Rule 165.7(a).

Video Timing 13. A videotape-based system may be used for non-championship competition, provided:

A. It complies with the provisions of Rule 165.10; B. It uses a videotape camera aligned with the finish line and videotape that produces at least 50 frames

per second; and C. It incorporates a timing device that generates a reading to 1/100th of a second. When a frame-by-

frame videotape-based system is used, the official time for each competitor shall be read from the time of the frame where the competitor is positioned exactly at, or immediately after, the finish line. NOTE: Video timing is not fully automatic timing and is intended to be used as a backup timing system.

14. When a videotape-based system is used, the Photo Finish Judges shall consider the frames immediately before and after the finish line. If there is any change in position between these two frames, the Judges shall declare a dead heat between the runners whose positions have changed.

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15. A photo finish system based on a combination of a video CCD (Charge Coupler Device) camera with a minimum of 100 lines per second, a computer and an appropriate electronic timing device may be used, provided this system is calibrated by an independent testing laboratory. The system must record the finish through a camera with a vertical slit, positioned in the extension of the finish line, producing a composite of at least 100 component images per second In order to confirm that the camera is correctly aligned and to facilitate the reading of the photo finish image, the intersection of the lane lines and the finish line shall be colored black in a suitable design. Any such design must be solely confined to the width of the intersection and not extending before the leading edge or more than 2cm beyond the finish line. Transponder Timing

16. The use of transponder timing systems in race walking events not held entirely within a stadium, road, and cross country races is permitted provided that: A. The system requires no action by the runner during the competition, at the finish line, or during any

finish line or results related system or process; B. The resolution is 0.1 second (i.e., it can separate runners finishing 0.1 second apart); C. The weight of the transponder and its housing carried on the runners' uniform, race number or shoe

is not significant; D. None of the equipment used at the start, along the course or at the finish line constitutes a significant

obstacle or barrier to the progress of the runner; E. The system, including the implementation of its components and its technical specifications, is

approved by the finish line subcommittee of the Road Running Technical Council; F. The system is started in accordance with Rule 245.2; G. The determination of the official winning time is in accordance with Rule 165.4; and H. Times for other competitors will be adjusted, based on the official winning time.

NOTE: Net times (the elapsed time between an individual’s transponder generated starting and finish times) shall not be used for any purpose other than Masters LDR records. See Rule 265.10.

I. Rule 245 - Finish Line Recording and Timing J. 2. The timers shall start their watches or timing devices at the flash/smoke of the pistol or approved

apparatus or at the first moment a competitor crosses the start line, whichever happens first. False starts in road races should not be recalled.

RULE 341 - Masters Long Distance Running Championships 10. An event chosen as a Masters Long Distance Running Championship shall use a transponder timing system as the primary timing and recording system. In addition, a fully automatic timing camera or video system placed on the finish line must be used to validate places, times and possible records. Non- championship events may use "select timing" to validate times and records. For transponder timing, FAT camera, video timing requirements and

timing practices, see Rule 165. For records, see Rule 265.1.

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About Bill Quinlisk Bill Quinlisk has been active in running, event directing, coaching and officiating since he first ran freshman cross country at McQuaid Jesuit HS (Rochester, NY) in 1965. He is the Vice-Chairperson of the USATF Masters Long Distance Running Committee, where he also serves as the Masters LDR Cross Country Representative and as the Masters LDR Championships Coordinator. He is USATF certified as a Grade 3 Master-Level LDR Referee and is the Rules’ Interpreter and past President of the Genesee Valley Certified (HS) Track & Field Officials Association. Bill has served as the Championships’ Referee and Masters LDR Race Liaison for over 50 USATF National Masters LDR events; cross country and road. He has served as an official at numerous HS, College and USATF events including head finish judge and as a member of the Jury of Appeals at the USATF Club Cross Country Championships and at the USA Cross Country Championships. He is past- President of the USATF Niagara Association. Bill was the co-founder and first President for both the Greater Rochester Track Club and the Genesee Valley Harriers Running Club in Rochester, NY. He has served as race director for over 250 running events; track & field meets, road races and cross country races including serving as the Co-Director for the 2005 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships in Rochester, NY. He was the founder of many major running events in the Rochester, NY area. For over 30 years Bill coached Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field at the High School, NAIA and NCAA Division III College levels. He is a recipient of USATF’s Otto Essig Award (2012) for meritorious service to Masters LDR and the Doris Heritage Award (2011) for outstanding contributions to the sport of cross country. Recently retired after 35 years of teaching and coaching in Rochester, NY, he and his wife, Patricia Warth, now reside in Syracuse, NY. He still competes in Cross Country, Road Racing and Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field. He believes that the best practices of event directors, timing service providers and officials must be updated on a regular basis in order to reflect the constant change in technology. ©2013 by Bill Quinlisk, Syracuse, NY