In previous track & field rants, I have mentioned that the conversion of metric
results to feet and inches in javelin, discus and hammer throw hides the
athlete's performance because multiple centimeter marks convert to the same
inch mark. But I did not have a previous example of it really mattering.
This article is mostly about other events. A little over half-way down, it has
this clumsy paragraph about javelin:
http://www.times-standard.com/sports/ci_20560862/humboldt-state-trackster-oshier-takes-two-titles-earns
The Jacks' Matthew Horsfall engaged in a spirited competition with UC San
Diego's Nick and Nash Howe in the javelin. Nick Howe, last year's national
champion, claimed his fourth straight CCAA title with a throw of 219-10.
Horfall's 199-1 was deemed equal in feet and inches to that of Howe's younger
brother, Nash Howe, but using the metric system, the underclassman was awarded
second place by a single centimeter.
So who won second place, and who was third? Well, if you Google the real
results instead of settling for media conversions:
http://www.calstatela.edu/athletics/track/index.htm
Nick Howe won with 67.00 m, Nash Howe second with 60.69 m, Horsfall third with
60.68 m. Would it have killed the reporter to just say that? Would it kill
the public to see how the event is really measured?
