Why aren runners ranked by Net Time instead of Final (Gun)Time?
The races we time are scored and official times are determined per USA Track and Field (USAT&F) rules 165.4 and 165.16 which state: • (165.16) “The use of transponder timing systems in road and cross country races is permitted provided that: …the determination of the official winning time is in accordance with Rule 165.4;” • (165.4) “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.” • Timing Companies who score races based on “chip” time have done the running world a disservice. It leads to inaccurate results and situations where the first person across the finish line may not be the winner of the race. It also leads to confusion for the runners. Finally, scoring races per USAT&F rules allows a runner to compare performances between races of t
