When Ellizabeth Jackson ran 9:55.63 at San Diego on 18 May it was on a track
with a 3.06m "short" pit (as opposed to a 3.66 "long" pit). This was faster
than her American record of 9:57.20 last year.
Since a short pit should produce faster times, does this preclude the mark
from being ratified as an American record?
Marc Bloom comments as following: "The women's water jump is SUPPOSED to be
60 meters shorter than the men's, according to IAAF guidelines. Officials
can still run women over the men's-size jump if they wish, but certainly the
shorter jump is within the rules for the new women's event. (Ironic because
some women and coaches prefer the men's jump, or at least one closer in
size.) So it should stand at a new AR."
Does anybody out there know for sure??
(Of course, Jackson may soon run faster than 9:55 and make this all
academic.)
