Runner with inaccurate marathon time to be reconsidered by B.A.A

Many people wonder why race-day instructions always tell you to wear your race bib on the front. It can be a hassle if you’re wearing an outer layer you might want to take off (but not throw away). Turns out there’s a good reason for this, and it’s not just so race officials will know you paid for your entry.

Marathoner and triathlete Skip Schott of Holland, Michigan found this out the hard way. Schott ran the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City, Michigan in May 2018 as a Boston qualifier. However, he knew there was a problem when he saw his result.

RELATED: Always wear your race bib on the front (here’s why)

Schott’s gun time and net time were listed as identical: 3:25:10.5. The only people whose gun time and net time might realistically be the same are elites who start at the very front, which Schott is not (and did not). He knew it had taken him at least several seconds to reach the start line after the gun went off. 

Derek Murphy of Marathon Investigation suggested that timing mats do not always pick up bibs with embedded chips if they’re not worn on the front. Schott wore his bib attached to a bib belt which was situated behind him. This mistake likely led to the Schott not registering a start time or 16 mile split. 

RELATED: Boston Marathon tightens 2020 qualification times

Since the story broke earlier this week, Murphy has pieced together Schott’s race in an effort to identify his actual marathon time. Murphy and Trevor Step of RF Timing came to the same conclusion that Schott’s GPS data was accurate. Schott’s actual start time was 30 seconds after the gun, meaning that he crossed the line in 3:24:40, not 3:25:10 as was suggested by his initial results. His Boston application was rejected based on his original time. 

An adjusted net time has been submitted to the B.A.A for review. Schott’s updated time should grant him admission to Boston as it is five minutes and 20 seconds below his qualifying standard of 3:30.