In 2000 I received an application for a 100 meter course on grass. It was:

KY00020PR Kentucky Speedway Cheetah Dash, measured by Carl Hilker.

It was to be used for timing the run of a cheetah. Seems the Cincinnati Zoo is in contact with a group of cheetah fans in Namibia, and the two groups are competing with one another to be the holder of the “world record” for cheetah running over 100 meters. Cincinnati’s cheetah set the record. An article appeared in Measurement News, Issue 102, July 2000.

A year or so later Namibia broke the record.

A few months ago I got a call from Hilker, who wanted to establish a new course for a new try at the record. The course was measured, and a new record was established.

Hilker was concerned that the course and timing be in accordance with international rules. I explained that neither USATF nor IAAF was likely to take an official interest in the event. I advised that since only two groups in the world were in competition that they make their own rules. This has now been done to the satisfaction of both groups.

I haven’t yet received the application for certification of the course, but expect the new 100 meter course will be OK.

Read about it below.

Pete,

Interesting! I always assumed all certified courses would be used by humans.

Just goes to show that when you want to have an accurate distance for a foot race (no matter how many feet the competitors have), the USATF procedures are the gold standard.

Pete

Be sure to check the postmark on that cert app. That "record" just might not be.
Now that the word is out I'm sure we can expect
something from the poodle lovers as well. A 50 m
Poodle Prance maybe?

I told Carl about the postmark, but, as the two groups are making the rules, he was unconcerned. I had a string of emails concerning the date of submission and am convinced that they had it measured before the cheetah ran.