Split requests seem to be all the fashion lately. I know they're perfectly legal, though I haven't read the rule itself. I'm wondering about them though ... It seems oddly unfair, for example, that a person never (or rarely) swimming open 50s could hold world or national records or #1 rankings in those events. (I'm just saying it's odd, while recognizing it could be perfectly legal.) But, aside from that and further, what if someone really played the system. What if, for example, someone was after a 50 free record. They entered a meet in the 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 free and led off free relays and requested split requests in each event to try to set a record. Is this legitimate or legal? Would a meet director be bound to accept split requests for all these events? Is there a limit? Do meet directors have discretion to deny multiple split requests? I can see a situation where multiple attempts at a 50 might result in a better time ...
Yes. HOWEVER, in order for it to be accepted, it would have to have all the official timing protocalls in place at the intermediate marks. So, for example, you would need to have FAT (fully automatic timing) and not manual timing, etc. It would also be made quite clear to all competitors what was happening before the race.
That said, it is rare to do this in the running events. There have been instances where people have used, say, a mile run to get a 1500 meter record, but fewer cases where it is done for other distances for record purposes.
In racewalking it is VERY common to use a longer race to go for a fast time at a shorter distance, usually for purposes of qualifying for another competition, like the Olympic Trials. It is also common in racewalking to extend a race distance to allow someone to qualify for something. This is mostly due to a scarcity of races with the correct level of judging and/or competitors. However, racewalk timing is generally accepted as being like road racing timing, so you don't need the fancy automatic timing unless it's a world record attempt.
Edited: I forgot to add that the running/walking race management can, at their discretion, decline to do this.
-LBJ
Thanks for the info! I was curious. I really like the fact that it is made clear to all competitors before the race that a split request has been made. This is pro-athlete and fair. This type of thing needs to be done in swimming.
Yes. HOWEVER, in order for it to be accepted, it would have to have all the official timing protocalls in place at the intermediate marks. So, for example, you would need to have FAT (fully automatic timing) and not manual timing, etc. It would also be made quite clear to all competitors what was happening before the race.
That said, it is rare to do this in the running events. There have been instances where people have used, say, a mile run to get a 1500 meter record, but fewer cases where it is done for other distances for record purposes.
In racewalking it is VERY common to use a longer race to go for a fast time at a shorter distance, usually for purposes of qualifying for another competition, like the Olympic Trials. It is also common in racewalking to extend a race distance to allow someone to qualify for something. This is mostly due to a scarcity of races with the correct level of judging and/or competitors. However, racewalk timing is generally accepted as being like road racing timing, so you don't need the fancy automatic timing unless it's a world record attempt.
Edited: I forgot to add that the running/walking race management can, at their discretion, decline to do this.
-LBJ
Thanks for the info! I was curious. I really like the fact that it is made clear to all competitors before the race that a split request has been made. This is pro-athlete and fair. This type of thing needs to be done in swimming.
