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Gasparilla Races Ditch Disposable Timing System

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By RICHARD MULLINS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

Updated: 01/26/2008 12:13 am

TAMPA - Organizers of the Gasparilla Distance Classic running races canceled plans to use an ultra-new race timing system they had hoped would be easier on runners and make the Feb. 9-10 races simpler to organize.

Roughly 17,000 runners will now be timed by small microchips tied to their shoes, made by ChampionChip, a running industry stalwart that times thousands of races each year.

That ends plans by race organizers to use a system made by SAI Timing of Michigan that uses disposable wireless tags that runners could keep.

"We're really going to have to get the word out that runners will have to return their ChampionChips at the end of the race," said Susan C. Harmeling, executive director of the Gasparilla Distance Classic Association, producer of the races. "We'll handle it fine, since that's how we've handled races for years that way."

The change came after an SAI system broke down in a Hawaii marathon last month, leaving thousands of runners with no finish times. Friday evening, Harmeling spoke with the founders of SAI, who told her the system was not through testing and ultimately could not be relied on for the races.

Harmeling said runners should expect a lot of e-mail from race organizers in the next few weeks, explaining the shift to ChampionChip, and offering instructions on how to prepare for the course. No costs will change for runners, she said.

The Tampa Tribune is a sponsor of the Gasparilla Distance Classic.

Reporter Richard Mullins can be reached at (813) 259-7919 or rmullins@tampatrib.com.

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