At the USATF Annual Meeting in Daytona Beach, FL, we held the annual Pacing Measurement Challenge. The course was designed by Gene Newman, Toni Youngman, and Duane Russell. Measurement was conducted by Toni and Duane. Toni kept the first three segment lengths to herself, and Duane held the lengths of the rest of the segments. This way, no one knew the length of the course, prior to the awards on Saturday morning.
This year, a ficticious unit of measure was used, to thwart contestants that wanted to use Google Earth to measure the course. In addition, the calibration course was set with part of it in a hallway under the hotel, to keep GPS units from being useful.
Thus, contestants had to pace the calibration course, and the challenge course, and not rely on technology to try and win the contest.
Results are below, but Mark Neal took first, with a variance of only .14 "sandpipers". (A sandpiper turned out to be 1.137963 feet.)
Actual Length...848.04 Sandpipers
Contestant......Stated Length....Variance
Mark Neal.......847.9............0.14
Toni Youngman...847.88...........0.16
John Elliott....850.17...........2.13
Duane Russell...840.02...........8.02
Jane Parks......856.69...........8.65
Irene Hermon....836.............12.04
Carol McLatchie.864.84..........16.8
Jim Gerweck.....869.15..........21.11
Phil Stewart....825.17..........22.87
Lester Mount....876.............27.96
Bob Baumel......819.5...........28.54
Gene Newman.....888.16..........40.12
Carole Newman...806.67..........41.37
Justin Kuo......914.12..........66.08
Fun was had by all. I am looking forward to next year in Indianapolis. Entry forms and maps will be near the Registration area. Look for the sign and a box for entries. Thanks to all who participated this year!
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