Understanding Net Time vs. Gun Time

What is Gun Time?

Gun Time refers to the total time from when the starting gun is fired to when the participant crosses the finish line. This is the most common method used to determine race results and awards. All participants who start in the same wave or group are assigned the same Gun Time, regardless of their individual start times. Gun Time is used to ensure a clear and straightforward determination of winners and rankings, particularly in overall and age category awards.

Example: If the race gun fires at 9:00 AM and you cross the finish line at 9:20 AM, your Gun Time is 20 minutes.

Rule Reference: According to USA Track & Field Rule 245.1, "The order in which athletes cross the finish line will be the official finish position." This emphasizes that Gun Time is used for determining official standings. USATF Rule 245

What is Net Time?

Net Time, also known as Chip Time or Mat Time, measures the time from when a participant crosses the starting line to when they cross the finish line. This time is recorded using electronic timing mats placed at the start and finish lines. Net Time is a personal measure and is used primarily to track individual performance, such as personal records or qualifying times.

Example: If you cross the start mat at 9:05 AM and finish at 9:20 AM, your Net Time is 15 minutes, regardless of when the race officially started.

Net Time is particularly useful for races that have large starting groups or waves, as it provides a more accurate measure of individual performance. However, not all races use Net Time due to the additional cost of timing mats.

Why We Use Gun Time for Awards

For awards and official results, our races use Gun Time to ensure fairness and consistency. Determining winners based on Gun Time allows for a straightforward comparison of performances, as it reflects the actual order in which participants crossed the finish line.

Key Points:

• Gun Time determines overall winners and age category awards.
• Net Time is valuable for tracking personal performance but does not impact award standings.
• Using Gun Time helps maintain the integrity of head-to-head competition.

Rule Reference: USA Track & Field Rule 245.3 states that while Net Time can be known to the athlete, "the actual time elapsed between an athlete reaching the starting line and finish line can be made known to the athlete, but will not be considered as official time." USATF Rule 245

Note: For records or specific qualifications, Gun Time is generally used. For example, world records and Olympic qualifications consider only Gun Time.

By using Gun Time, we aim to uphold the traditional values of competitive racing and ensure a clear and fair determination of results.