Snyder promises corrected Landover results in 2 weeks

Last night, USATF Masters T&F Chairman Gary Snyder publicly tackled the Landover results mess for the first time. He says results will be reposted next month, and “I have also initiated a complete review of procedures for the timing (of) future USA Championship meets including the option (of using) our own equipment and crew.” His entry began: “As many of you know there are some problems with the results from the USA Indoor Championships last weekend. The USATF Masters Track & Field Committee members who were at the meet are working to correct the results. Immediately after competing we all want to know what our time was, me too. It is disappointing if we do not know immediately. If the time is not on the display board we begin pacing the results area for the sheets. Did I run well? Did I make the finals? Is it a record?”

Gary continued:

I have conferred with the Chair of the Masters, Jim Flanik, who said that the Hytek computer files, Finish Lynx photos and manual field sheets are (en route) to various Games Committee members. These records will be used to review questionable results.

Beginning April 1st you can contact Jim. I request that ONLY the competitor(s) that are concerned about their own results contact Jim at jpflanik@aol.com with as much information that you can provide, i.e. Gary Snyder M65 200M prelim incorrect place I was in heat 1 lane 3 and finished 2nd but result shows 4th. Unfortunately requests from others will not be honored. Any questions with the above please contact me at garysnyder@att.net.

I expect the process to take approximately two weeks at which time updated final results will be posted.

I have also initiated a complete review of procedures for the timing future USA Championship meets including the option our own equipment and crew.

 

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March 26, 2009

2 Responses

  1. Roger Pierce - March 27, 2009

    I have been competing in Track and Field for more than 60 years and I am always rather surprised at how difficult it is for competitors at times to have access to their results at meets.
    It almost seems that some meet directors and officials feel it is privledged information which they cannot share with athletes for some unfathomable reason. I have departed from more meets than I care to remember not having a clue where I placed or my time in the events I competed.
    Let me also say that I have been a meet director, coach and official in the past and at times it has been difficult to post results with reasonable speed for one reason or another. I truly understand and believe that most meet directors are on the athlete’s side and want a streamlined efficient meet with results produced as quickly and accurately as possible.(Why would they want it any other way?)
    At the Nationals in Maryland, it was incredibly murky as to who qualified for the finals. The results were posted on the electronic board for less than 10 seconds, which is not long enough for a competitor who has just finished a race and is bent over recovering or just pulling themselves together after the event. What was more frustrating was the blank screen as the next race was organized, which was at least 2 or 3 minutes. Why couldn’t the results be left on the electronic board for that time frame? It wasn’t as if they had to post the entrants for the next race..because they didn’t.
    Another serious oversight was the lack of communication or information as to the procedure to declare for the final (if you thought you had qualified) because there was no posting in most cases of trial results in any sort of a timely manner…I checked the posting area 4 or 5 times for my events, finally gave up and hovered near the declaration table waiting for an announcement as to who exactly did qualify…and incredibly, the only way I found out was to listen to the officials call out names as they were preparing to give out lanes and numbers for the finals.
    Then….we were held in an area (penned in if you will) with no chance to warm up, 15-20 minutes before the final..Why? Because it was easier for the officials, that’s why. We were moved to the start in groups and waited even longer. Why can’t the results be posted in a recognized official results posting area where finalists can see what heat and lane they are in and then have directions as to when and where the race will be. When we show up for the race we can be given the number for our uniforms. We are adults and can handle the responsibility of being where we have to if we have the information…plus; those of us with experience in these matters can actually help folks who are having a difficult time finding their way. Just a thought.
    As I stated earlier I have been competing for more than 60 years, and in that time I have seen just about everything that can happen in a track meet, good and bad. In fact I really had few problems with most of what transpired but only because I have had a great deal of experience with all kinds of track meets all over the world. That said, I couldn’t help but feel badly for the many folks who are not experienced enough to know what to do when things are nor spelled out clearly, when results are not posted, when they have a feeling that the times and places were screwed up when they were finally belatedly posted.
    Finally, I don’t know who designed the sound system for the facility, but I would request my money back if I was in charge. Given the fact that buildings like that are notorious for their sound problems, some time and effort should have been given to whether people on the microphone could be understood. It was not a problem with volume…but it was virtually impossible to understand most of what Peter Taylor(arguably one of the most knowledgable and experienced Track and Field announcers of all time) was announcing. That was a shame. Note to Facilities in Landover…Listen to the sound system yourself, and you will see what I am talking about..It really needs to be fixed.
    All that said..I really do understand what a difficult task putting on a National Masters Meet is, but please accept this commentary in the manner it is submitted, not as a condemnation but rather some thoughts which can hopefully help improve things the next time. I salute everyone involved in organizing and conducting the meet Thanks for all your efforts.

  2. peter taylor - March 28, 2009

    Excellent points, Roger. I would have helped you if I could, but even I didn’t know who had qualified for the finals in the 60 and 200 after they had run their trials. Furthermore, from what you have said you wouldn’t have understood me even if I had announced the finalists.
    With the end of the meet now in my rear-view mirror, I would say it was exciting, full of great performances, and something that was very much worthwhile.
    On the good side, people will remember this meet for its great excitement; on the bad side, they will remember it as the nationals in which the FAT failed repeatedly and in which you couldn’t understand the announcer. That largely explains why I say I did not have a good meet.
    I hope to do better in Oshkosh and just bought my ticket (Washington Dulles to Detroit, then Detroit to Appleton). Tickets were reasonable, and I hope at least 1300 others will make a purchase.

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