The ChronoTrack D-Tag has become the industry standard for high-tech road race timing. The ground-breaking disposable D-Tag and the introduction of racing’s first successful tag-on-a-bib system, called the B-Tag, have made ChronoTrack timers’ primary choice for road races around the world. One timer, however, has been experimenting with other ways to use the ChronoTrack system.

John Gault is the owner, together with his wife Anne, of Gault Race Management. Based in Michigan, the Gaults provide timing for different events all over the country. This November, they used the ChronoTrack system to time all three divisions of the NCAA Cross Country Championships. When asked whether the events were a success, Gault responded, “We’ve already been asked about timing some of the bigger meets for NCAA in the future. They were very pleased with the tags.”

Some expressed concerns that the ChronoTrack system might not hold up against the added equipment the athletes might use outdoors – specifically the spikes used by cross country runners. Gault says, “I’ve had mats (called Gators) at more than a dozen cross country races, and you’d think they’d have holes all over them from the spikes, but not my ChronoTrack mats. Sure, they’re scratched up enough, but you can’t get a hole through them with runners’ spikes.”

Additionally, while helping ChronoTrack test the use of its forthcoming B-tag, the timers were pleased to report success. When some athletes’ finish times were challenged, Gault reports the B-Tag would have saved the day. “We had to review three finishes with the camera systems. In each case, the chest tag showed the correct finish order.”

The problem isn’t the system’s performance, he says. “The problem is that there are still so many people in racing communities who have never heard of [the D-Tag or ChronoTrack]. We’ve got to get the word out.”

Gault Race Management also used ChronoTrack Systems to time this year’s www.gaultracemanagement.com.