Athletics question...

[imamartian]

I think athletics has got it wrong when it comes to sprint events... i.e. those with blocks. Surely the blocks should be touching the line, not the finger tips?

If a sprinter stands up where the blocks are, they are half a metre behind the line, and that's obviously where they run from. Take it to extremes...you have a sprinter who is 10 metres tall, he'll be standing ten metres behind the line and will run 110 metres?

 

[snico]

I think athletics has got it wrong when it comes to sprint events... i.e. those with blocks. Surely the blocks should be touching the line, not the finger tips?

If a sprinter stands up where the blocks are, they are half a metre behind the line, and that's obviously where they run from. Take it to extremes...you have a sprinter who is 10 metres tall, he'll be standing ten metres behind the line and will run 110 metres?

But if they are touching the line, then the athlete will be over the line before the race has even started.

 

[imamartian]

I think athletics has got it wrong when it comes to sprint events... i.e. those with blocks. Surely the blocks should be touching the line, not the finger tips?

If a sprinter stands up where the blocks are, they are half a metre behind the line, and that's obviously where they run from. Take it to extremes...you have a sprinter who is 10 metres tall, he'll be standing ten metres behind the line and will run 110 metres?

But if they are touching the line, then the athlete will be over the line before the race has even started.

exactly, so it has to be feet touching the line, and then the first foot over the line, not the chest as it is now

 

[snico]

Blocks have to be used now for races, especially top level.

So for an athlete to get a good start he needs good acceleration, without any part of his body touching the ground over the line.

 

[imamartian]

Blocks have to be used now for races, especially top level.

So for an athlete to get a good start he needs good acceleration, without any part of his body touching the ground over the line.

you're missing my point massively.... the feet do the running of the 100 metres, so the feet should touch the line and be timed past the finish line? surely?

 

[Mickymoody]

I think athletics has got it wrong when it comes to sprint events... i.e. those with blocks. Surely the blocks should be touching the line, not the finger tips?

If a sprinter stands up where the blocks are, they are half a metre behind the line, and that's obviously where they run from. Take it to extremes...you have a sprinter who is 10 metres tall, he'll be standing ten metres behind the line and will run 110 metres?

A ten metre tall athlete? Blimey! Giants basically 10 sizes of ourselves are running sprint races?

 

[snico]

Blocks have to be used now for races, especially top level.

So for an athlete to get a good start he needs good acceleration, without any part of his body touching the ground over the line.

you're missing my point massively.... the feet do the running of the 100 metres, so the feet should touch the line and be timed past the finish line? surely?

But then none of the runners would be running 100 meters because someone with orangutan arms may end up running 99 meters!

I know what you are saying, but the rules state that the body should be touching the ground on the line at the start.

 

[htgeng]

Take it to the other extreme. It wouldn't matter where a 3ft midget started off the line, he'd still lose to 5ft high person.

 

[noseall]

you're missing my point massively.... the feet do the running of the 100 metres, so the feet should touch the line and be timed past the finish line? surely?

It is your chest (torso) crossing the finish line that defines the race winner and not the feet, therefore the race starts and finishes at your torso.

 

[imamartian]

you're missing my point massively.... the feet do the running of the 100 metres, so the feet should touch the line and be timed past the finish line? surely?

It is your chest (torso) crossing the finish line that defines the race winner and not the feet, therefore the race starts and finishes at your torso.

Yeah, that's a good point actually. Although i still don't think it's accurate enough, when you consider they measure the time of the race to one hundredth of a second, and look at a photo to see who won. But don't care if one torso is slightly over the start line, providing the fingers don't touch the white paint.

They could use a board to lean the chest on, similar to how they start BMX bike races?

 

[noseall]

I guess the torso is used to prevent runners diving for the line with hands outstretched or wildly sliding over with their feet.

 

[imamartian]

ok, another question... you know those tumblers, i.e. gymnasts who run down the runway doing backflips and triple tuck salcos? well would they be allowed to do the high jump or the long jump? because i'm sure they'd smash a record or two !!!