Blogs : Michael McCoy

Track Length, Wind Readings, & Wind Gauges...Oh My!!!!

The recently completed 100 meter series for both the women and men (btw congratz to the young women & men making the team) at the U.S. Olympic Trials has been a cause for speculation by followers of the sport.  There was speculation regarding the spate of fast times recorded by both the women & men's competitors.  There was speculation about the actual length of the track due to the belief that something had to be wrong with the track because so many fast times came in such a short period of time; and there was speculation about the some of the recorded wind readings especially in light of the fact some races had the actual same recorded readings.

These speculations have run wild on a variety of track & field-oriented message boards on the Internet.  Some of these spectulations have me cracking up because I wonder if some of the folks doing the speculation actually have any idea of the things that go into insuring a race actually ocurrs as presented on TV.

With regards to the actual track length at the University of Oregon where the current Olympic Trials are being conducted, one has to keep in mind in order for the actual event to occur there, the track itself must meet certain specifications.  Those specifications not only have to meet the guidelines as established by USA Track & Field (USATF) but must meet the guidelines established by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).  After all, the Prefontaine meet that's hosted on Oregon's campus is an IAAF Grand Prix event; and the IAAF is very strigent about who hosts meets under their auspices.

In order to host an IAAF event (Grand Prix meet, championship, or any other event where the IAAF is the primary sponsoring host), a facility must meet the guidelines established guidelines in order to be certified by that organization (see links below):

http://www.isss.de/publications/IAAF/IAAF%20PerfSpec2003-comment%20170903.pdf

http://www2.iaaf.org/TheSport/Technical/CertificationSystem/certification2.html

For a track to be certified by the IAAF, it must be constructed according to the IAAF Performance Specifications for Synthetic Surfaced Athletics Tracks (Outdoor).  This manual establishes the minimum performance requirements for synthetic surfaced outdoor tracks.  The IAAF performance specifications are derived from testing and certification methodologies which result from long and detailed work involving, among others, test laboratories, track manufacturers, biomechanical researchers and the IAAF.  These methodologies evolved into a system which became the norm and accepted by the IAAF in 1999.

In order for a synthetic track to meet IAAF specifications it must involve the following:

• Imperfections: freedom from bubbles, fissures, delamination, uncured areas, etc.
• Flatness: no significant localized bumps, depressions or step-like irregularities.
• Thickness: the depth of the synthetic surfacing layer throughout the facility is recorded.
• Force Reduction: an appropriate reduction in impact force caused by the surface
• Vertical Deformation: an appropriate degree of deformation of the surface under impact.
• Friction: no potential slip between shoe and the wet surface.
• Tensile Strength: adequate strength of the surfacing material in tension.
• Color: uniformity and consistency of the color.

Considering there are only three Class 2 (highest IAAF track & field certification there is) track & field facilities in the U.S. (the University of Oregon in Eugene, John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Ichan Stadium in Randall's Island, New York) and how particular the IAAF is when it comes to having meets contested where they're in the picture, do you really think the IAAF would have its own meets at facilities if its procedures and requirements were not adhered to?

Concerning wind gauges, national championships and international qualifying meets like the Trials always bring out the latest in technological advances.  Both IAAF and USATF rules list the required use of wind gauges in both the short sprinting and horizontal jumping events.  Specifically, manufacturers have developed the use of ultrasonic wind gauges for wind speed measurements in those events.  At major international and national championships (as well as the major invitationals) the wind gauges are connected to the timing systems used to record meet performances (specifically in the running events.  In the horizontal jumping events, the wind gauge is operated manually).

In the 100 and 200-meter races the wind gauge is placed at the midway point of the straightaway.  It's connected to a cable which is connected to the FinishLynx timing system computer used to record the times for the races.  In addition to be connected to the timing system, the wind gauge is also connected to the start gun.  Once the start gun is fired, both the timing system and wind gauge are activated.  At the conclusion of the race, when the competitors break the laser sightlines bordering the finishline, both the timing system and wind gauge performances are recorded and stored almost instantaneously.

In terms of the wind readings that were recorded in both the women's and men's 100-meter races, all I can say is the wind is an unpredictable variable.  In some instances the wind will blow for a consistent reading by the wind gauge.  In other instances, the wind shifts from a tailwind to a headwind (or vice versa). 

Basically, the way the wind gauge works is that once it's activated (either manually or electronically) and starts recording the wind (at the appropriate time interval--10 seconds for the sprints and 13 seconds for the sprint hurdles) from the time the race begins until it ends.  The wind reading is taken from the gauge at the conclusion of race and the wind gauge timing interval.  So, in essence, the wind can be blowing at 2.5 meters per second at the start of a race and by the time it end, can either decrease its strength or stop blowing.  Or the wind can increase in strength.  Like I said, the wind is probably the most unpredictable variable there is pertaining to track & field.

Talk about unpredictable:  9.68 is a helluva performance wind or no wind. Who would've thought that would've been the winning time?