Timing and measurements are a very important aspect of track and field events

Madugundu Krishna June 11, 2012

Sometimes only a few hundredths of a second or a few centimeters decide the first and second place for the participants. These events can be timed with the help of a stopwatch or more advanced timing systems with videotapes and photo finishes. In athletic events, played locally, events are started with a pistol and stopwatches.

One official fires the gun into the air as the starting signal and other official fires the gun into the air as the starting signal and other officials or volunteers time each competitor with independent stopwatches. Some competitions at this level use multilane timers. A multilane timer consists of a signals electronic system that times all eight runners simultaneously. One official starts the system when the pistol is fired. Eight other officials are each assigned to a specific lane and hold a button that is attached to the main unit a cord. When the runner in their assigned lane crosses the finish line, the lane official presses the button and the runner’s time is recorded.

In international athletic Meet, sophisticated timing systems are used as hand- timed races are not considered accurate enough to measure Olympic or world records in the shorter track events. To record shorter than the 400-meters dash, an automatic timing system must be used be used.

The high accurate system features an electronic starting pistol and a comprised timing device that produces an image of the finish. Most state-of-the art timing system uses a camera that feeds a stream of digital photographs in to a computer. An operator then uses special software to read times. Older systems use a videotape or conventional photography to record the finish. It is surprising that wind factor that is measured when the time of the runner is recorded.