the photo finish rule explained... vc no doubt

[Baddaz]

A close finish in the women's world 100m race


YOU be the judge . . . the official finish line photo shows American Lauryn Williams's leg and head across the line ahead of winner Jamaica's Veronica Campbell's torso at the world athletics titles in Osaka, Japan. / Reuters

JAMAICA'S Veronica Campbell has edged out American Lauryn Williams in a controversial photo finish to win the women's world 100m title.

Campbell and Williams clocked an identical 11.01sec with the judges taking several minutes to declare the winner, briefly plunging the event at the world titles in Osaka into confusion.

The official photo finish showed Williams's leg and head well across the finish line before Campbell's torso but IAAF rules were adjusted several years ago to make an athlete's torso the reference point for close finishes.

Carmelita Jeter claimed bronze for the US in 11.02 but there was disappointment for her team-mate and former world champion Torri Edwards, who finished fourth.

Campbell, the Olympic 200m champion, made up for Jamaica's disappointment on Sunday when world 100m record-holder Asafa Powell was blown away by America's Tyson Gay.

It was a deserved victory for the 25-year-old from Kingston who ran the fastest semi in 10.99 and has the world's best time this year (10.89).
Jeter was a surprise medallist, although she had signalled her intent with the quickest time in the opening round.

But the predicted showdown between Campbell and Edwards failed to materialise.

The pair are the only women to breach the 11-second barrier this season with Edwards winning seven out of eight 100m races, her only loss coming at the hands of Campbell in New York.

Edwards, who took gold in Paris four years ago, has been in the form of her life this year after setting a personal best of 10.90.

Campbell, the Olympic 200m champion, has also been in scintillating form this season with three sub-11 second runs including the world's fastest time -- 10.89 in Kingston -- heading into the championships.

In 2003, Edwards finished second and third in the 100m and 200m, but was promoted to gold and silver after Kelli White's disqualification for doping.

Edwards was banned in April 2004 for taking nikethamide but was reinstated the following November when the substance was downgraded.

the comments of some fans...

Only those who are ignorant of athletic regulations would even consider a hand or a head over the line ahead of the athlete whose chest is thrust first. I cannnot believe this issue is newsworthy. I prefer to believe most Australians knew that from primary school athletics.

Posted by: merrik alein of Qld 7:48pm today

Hmmm, is this going to happen again or is it the last time it will happen? I think not! This kind of incident will happen more and more often now days and something has to be done now. For e.g. There should be little devices that are placed in or on the runners¿ body or clothing that signals when the runner finishes the race. This will be a far more efficient way or tracking people¿s places and times.

Posted by: John Travis of null 6:28pm today

What´s the confusion? It´s a simple rule.

Posted by: David Allen of 5:23pm today

These girls are professional athletes who should know the rules inside out and upside down. They should all be working on getting torso over the line. Good on the judges. They have to make rules and then stick to them.

Posted by: Heather Sinclair of 1:54pm today

[Mosiah]

No controversy here, unless it is being initiated by ignorant Americans. (Howdy HL!) The "torso rule" has been in place since I went to high school, decades ago! It can be no other way because hands and legs will cross the line depending on what stride one was in at the tape. The torso rule is certainly the best, if not the only, way to determine the winner. Indeed, if we go by hands, then Carmelita Jeter would have come second and Veronica third!!! That would be ludicrous! Christine Arron, obviously aware of the rules, did the right thing by trying to dip with her hands trailing, thereby pushing the torso forward.

I am surprised that it took this long for some badmind yank to start some controversy.

[Islandman]

I remember watching athletes leaning forward at Norman Manley games in the late 70s and asking my father why they were doing that , so I don't know which rock these people live under.

Reminds me of when they were trying to make the argument that Michael Johnson was the worlds fastest man instead of Donovan Powell byt diciding his 200M time by 2! What a set of f&%$g badmind idiots!

[Tilla]

Emmm, streeeeeetch. Ahmm. Well, just coming from under my rock.

I was wondering too how they got Campbell as winner. Mosiah's explaination cleared it up for me. It makes sense too, as if it were just any part ofthe body crossing the line, the taller person with longer arms would always have the advantage.