I have looked now at over 50 peoples results…one of them is missing a time split on the run course…and yet gets a Kona slot? How can this be? What does one have to do to “miss” a mat? What does WTC and or USAT do when someone misses a mat? Can the person who does not get a slot but hits all of the mats file a complaint?
I have looked now at over 50 peoples results…one of them is missing a time split on the run course…and yet gets a Kona slot? How can this be? What does one have to do to “miss” a mat? What does WTC and or USAT do when someone misses a mat? Can the person who does not get a slot but hits all of the mats file a complaint?
Does his time overall show any irregularities? The chips aren’t perfect, I had a missing time this year at a sprint. If the pace is consistent overall, might be just “one of those things”.
John
Most timer/scorers have a back up system because the mats sometimes miss chips - it does not happen often, but it does happen.
At the finishline, we have a recognition mat placed 75 yards in front of the finishline to let us know the name of the next athlete. Out of 2,200 athletes yesterday in Madison, two of the chips did not register on the recognition mat.
We have a back up computer that we punch in the athlete number to get their name and info.
I’m sure that in the case you mentioned that the Kona Qualifers run time was looked at closely to make sure that the entire course was completed. SportsStats does an awesome job of timing/scoring. Z
Tom I heard they didn’t believe that the female amateur winner, Jan Guenther was actually finishing the race when she did! Did you guys ask for ID? 
News to me, I let the RD and Timers handle all that stuff, I’m just the voice that you hear when Mike takes a break! 
Well, I think ordinarily it’s hard to believe a 50 year old woman would race so fast! You and Reilly did a great job as always…
Well, I think ordinarily it’s hard to believe a 50 year old woman would race so fast! You and Reilly did a great job as always…
DO NOT think that I am trying to infer that any 50 year old, or any woman did anything out of the ordinary.
I think Jan Guenther’s performance was probably tops for the day. For a 50 year old to be the top female amateur is outstanding. I kept seeing her during the race cause for a while she was just in front of a friend of mine (who at the time was leading the F45-49). A close second may have been Susan Pierson who did win the 45-49 with a whopping 3:32 marathon. Gave new meaning to “ride for show, run for dough”.
George
Jan has been having an extraordinary year of racing. It wasn’t a surprise to see her go so fast. She went 4:36 in a HIM in July. 50-year-old women are tough cookies. I’ve heard another 50yr old friend say that IMOO is still easier than childbirth (and she finished this year’s event around 13hours, even after breaking her collarbone and elbow this summer).
Oh I know…Jan is truly an amazing athlete and a super nice person too. I was just surprised that the announcers (from what I heard) took awhile to realize she was “legit”.
just to add to the kudo’s this was S. Pierson’s 1st IM.
FWIW I’ve raced relatively few tri’s compared to some and have had at least two races where I did not get at least one split. I can promise that I did not cut the course or cartwheel over the mat, it just did’t catch the chip.
Yeah, I get what you’re saying. The roll-down was kinda interesting, too. Were you there? The leader of the roll-down was like: “The winner of the 50-54 age group was top ten overall and she passed up her spot, blah blah blah.” The next place woman in that age group was a good 1hr20 back with a still-impressive time under 12hours. Incredible.
"DO NOT think that I am trying to infer that any 50 year old, or any woman did anything out of the ordinary. "
Wouldn’t dream of it.