CHAMPIONCHIP High-tech timing for Peace Race still an issue for officials

The ChampionChip would provide labor-saving efficiency.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Will the Youngstown Peace Race ever go high-tech by requiring the use of ChampionChips attached to runners' shoelaces to provide for automatic timing?
S. Mark Courtney, who operates the Runner's High/ChampionChip Timing Service in Grove City, Pa., would love to see the new technology find its way into the Peace Race.
"The chip is a very big advance," said Courtney, one of only 59 professional timers in the U.S., and one of just two in the Ohio-Pennsylvania region. Courtney's company timed 262 races last year, including over 100 using the ChampionChip.
"Results are faster, instantaneous," he said. "The bottom line is you are getting data into the computer that is accurate and fast. The [previous] way was labor intensive."
But Courtney also pointed out, "There is nothing wrong with the old system of tearing the race tags off in the chutes at the finish line and spindling them onto fish stringers."
However, "In large races, this system placed great demands on the finish line volunteers. The ChampionChip eliminates these demands."
Was co-director, timer
Courtney had also served as a co-director of the Peace Race with Ted Rupe for 12 years from 1990 until 2001, and during that span Courtney's company also provided the timing services for the Peace Race.
Courtney said he withdrew from being co-director as a cost-cutting measure by the Peace Race, with an unwritten understanding that he would continue to provide the timing services.
However, he said his timing job was given to Rupe last year as part of further cost-cutting measures.
As a result, Courtney was free to participate in the 10K race and placed second overall in the masters division. Courtney has hopes of regaining his timing role with the Peace Race -- and doing it with the ChampionChip -- which he equates with high-tech progress and labor-saving efficiency.
"Having a set of mats at the 5K split would produce a lot of interesting statistical data for the Peace Race's fast downhill course," said Courtney.
Small price worth it
Courtney said that although it's a little more expensive to use the ChampionChip, that the cost is worth it because of all the advantages, including the fact that runners love it and wouldn't mind paying a little more because they want to be part of the high-tech movement and progress.
A runner can rent a ChampionChip at a race for $1 or can buy one for about $35, which allows him to use that custom chip in any ChampionChip race in the world. The chip contains the runner's identification number, which then can be programmed into the computer to match his incoming race times.
"Runners can buy their own chips at the 'mega-races' like the Boston Marathon as a souvenir," said Courtney.
Significant investment
Courtney said he has invested $125,000 to purchase the ChampionChip equipment, and charges a race $100 for the set up and rental of the antenna mats and finish-line digital clock, $1.25 per runner for the timing service and $1 chip rental fee.
"The chip rental fee is generally equivalent to the only additional race expense incurred with ChampionChip timing," said Courtney. "There is usually an additional charge for placing mats at the starting line and at locations on the course [such as the 5K split in a 10K race]."
Courtney is assisted by his wife, Debbie, and aides Jim Lang of Erie, Jeff Luther of Kinsman and Vince Macioge of Ellwood City. They average about five to seven races every weekend from March until late November. Over 100,000 runners cross their finish lines every year.
kovach@vindy.com