WHAT IS "FAT?" FAT is the acronym for "Fully Automatic Time." At SCIL dual meets, times are 'hand-held' times - timed by sanctioned officials using stopwatches. At most of the major meets we will attend race times will be measured by computers and lasers rather than by hand-held stop watches. At those meets you will notice a camera (sometimes two) positioned at the finish line and the starter will wear a cable attached to his starting pistol which is connected to the camera and the finish line computer. The runners break a beam at the finish line and the time is calculated by the computer. Today, almost all records, and definitely state and national records, must be recorded using FAT. Most Sparta High School records are FAT as they were set at NJSIAA Sectional, Group or MOC meets that use the FAT system.
(It is the prefered method of determining records, and there is a conversion factor that is used to compare FAT times to hand-held times. For example, the SHS 3200m record was set in 2002 by Kevin Bruffy with a hand-held time of 9:39.0. This converts to a FAT time of 9:39.14. Justin Hedderich ran the 3200m in 2004 with a FAT time of 9:39.12. Since Justin's FAT is faster than Kevin's converted hand-held, Justin has the new record.) For events under 400m the conversion is that of .24
