Officiating gaffs.

[pembrokian]

These happen even at the very top.

Did anyone get to see the officiating at the Worlds heptathlon javelin ? Woeful didn't even come close to describing it. Now I appreciate that, due to their technique (or lack of) heptathlon javelin can be tricky to judge sometimes for flat landings but the field guy was simply clueless.

After giving a few flat landers which I thought (from my less than optimal perspective in the stands) looked OK I was prepared to concede that I just couldn't "see" them properly. However, the German TV started doing replays on the big screen which made some of his howlers look really blatent.

The Estonian girl (Kaie Kand, not a brilliant multi-eventer but a reasonable javelin thrower and I wouldn't mind if she sat next to me on the bus !) had her first two judged flat both of which were close to 50m. When he judged her third 50m throw as flat too she protested to the foot-fault judge. While he was arguing the toss with her the giant screen showed a superb replay of her slow-mo, close up, perfect "point first" landing.

She was given a fourth trial which she subsequently dropped in at < 38m !

And you thought it only happened to you.

The official in question is currently extracting salt from a giant hole in Siberia.

[slinger]

I remember at throwsfest a few years back they were measuring the u/17's 700g javs from where the tail marked the ground [as they would land point first then tail hit the ground second] I guess sort ala measuring shot or disc etc ie the furthest point back!

[jimmy3645]

in my opinion there is no better place to watch if the javelin lands front first or tail first than standing on the run way, when you throw or watch anybody else throw from behind the jav its easy to see even the closest landings to see if its a foul or not, if anybody has tried to judge these from standing at 50m and watching them land right next to you and fly past your nose, you will soon realise its soooooooo hard to judge even the most obvious of landings obviously this is the official place to stand but ive always thought its bloody insane im suprised the official who marks the distance doesnt stand on the javelin runway , or maybe the guy who watches the line should stand in the commentary box!