Why use chip timers if race position still when cross line?

[philcray]

Just an observation really, but most of the races (half marathon & 10k mainly) I have done which use chip timers, still give final race positions based on when you cross the finish line not actual running time. Just wondering why they do this as it seems to defeat the object.

Any thoughts?

[esuuv]

Because they are races not time trials - i.e. to win you have to cross the line first.

Chip timing is for those of us that aren't going to win it but want our time measured properly - imagine the scrum at a big race if the 2+ hour half marathoners needed to start as close to the line as possible to get a PB

Edited by esuuv on Thursday 1st October 13:22

[Cybertronian]

As esuuv says, it's he/she who crosses the line first. If it were based on finish time, it would be near impossible to gauge who you're actually racing against as an age grouper - you might have crossed the line first but somebody who started later but ran a faster time ends up winning the prize, whom you have no idea of.