2007-09-16-NCAA

Back in June, I reported a thread on the Track and Field News site which was suggesting that the NCAA might push track and field back into the stone age of measurement.

Fortunately, the NCAA seems to have enough smart people on hand and the proposed updates for the 2008 edition of the NCAA rules move to make metric the exclusive measurement system when recording (it still allows for reporting both to the public).

Measurement System Preference. Amend 6-1.16d (page 89): b. Metrics is the preferred system of measurement. Distances measured metrically shall be recorded to the nearest lesser centimeter (i.e., fractions less than one centimeter must be ignored).
c. Imperial measurement is acceptable. Distances shall be recorded to the lesser quarter-inch for the horizontal jumps, shot put and weight throw, and to the lesser inch for the discus, hammer and javelin.
d. c. Performances shall be announced in imperial and metric and displayed, when possible, both in imperial and metric. When performances are measured metrically, it is recommended that they are recorded, displayed and announced metrically and imperially.

Rationale: Divisions II and III accept only metric qualifying marks now, so this is an update to the rules book to reflect that. Further, the committee wanted to specify that the imperial display is important to relating the sport to fans.

You can get a full list of the proposed changes for next year here