Nike Team Nationals

Lynx

Nike Team Nationals

Quotes: "This season has been the most fun. It's all about team!"

"Never before had such breathtaking storylines played out quite like this: Champion met champion. Talent met technology. And for the first time ever, America met its true number ones."

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"2-legged thoroughbreds and high technology on display at Portland Meadows. It was a wonderful experience for both fans and competitors. there were no gloomy faces to be seen after the race had ended. Everyone seemed to know they had taken part in something special. Choosing the best is not an easy task & this was a brilliant step in the right direction.

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Coach with his AirCyber Live
Handheld Computer

The Conceptual Plans

In April of 2004 Lynx, Nike, and the National Scholastic Sports Foundation began making plans for a Cross Country event unlike any other seen in the US - or the world.

The event would feature the top High School teams from around the United States competing for the first time for a National Team Championship.

Lynx would develop software that would link to their existing technology to provide instant individual and team standings at every kilometer of the 5k races.

Lynx would also develop software that would broadcast these individual and team standings to handheld computers that would be provided to coaches, media and VIP's at the event.

The Press Release.

The Event

Portland Meadows has a one-mile track composed of dirt and sand about 20 meters wide. Using the track and its large infield, an undulating 9-hole golf course, meet officials have fashioned a 2-k loop, to be covered twice, and a 1-k loop. The event will be contested in full view of spectators, and the start and finish will be in front of the grandstand. Hay bales serving as hurdles, plus man-made hills, will be included to challenge the runners.

Click here to see the course map

The Technology

FinishLynx Event Image at Post Event Party

The Lynx Equipment comprised the following:

Athletes - each wearing one TrackerLynx transponder. (1430 transponder passes with zero misses)
Start - two independent RadioLynx Wireless Start Signal systems
1k/3k - one TrackerLynx detection loop (AMB Activ) and Color FinishLynx Camera for chip detection verification. XCScore software processing output from FinishLynx software to generate real-time Team Scores as athletes cross detection loop.
2k/4k - one TrackerLynx detection loop (AMB Activ) and Color FinishLynx Camera for chip detection verification. XCScore software processing output from FinishLynx software to generate real-time Team Scores as athletes cross detection loop.
Finish Line - one TrackerLynx detection loop (AMB Activ), Primary Color FinishLynx Camera for official time recording on torso, Backup (reverse angle) Color FinishLynx Camera for close finish evaluation. XCScore software processing output from FinishLynx software to generate real-time Team Scores as athletes cross detection loop.
Television Video Boards - ResulTV Running Time on ScandoPRO scan converter, ResulTV Individual Places on ScandoPro scan converter, ResulTV Team Scores on ScandoPRO scan converter
Coaches Wireless Distribution Network - Amplified 802.11b wireless hub and antenna broadcasting to 60+ Tungsten C wireless equipped Palm OS Handheld computers running AIRCYBER LIVE and AIRCYBER software.

The Reviews

"Choosing the best is not an easy task & this was a brilliant step in the right direction. The use of technology added a whole new and unique aspect to the experience. It was almost stunning to see team standings displayed in the midst of a race. It was a most positive experience for all with almost ebullient faces all around."

"The boys' competition figured to be a titanic showdown between Kroy and Stotan XC Club (featuring runners from Fayetteville-Manlius HS of New York during the season). The anticipation did not disappoint. With the innovative debut of in-race kilometer-by-kilometer scoring updates appearing on the two 17-foot-by-23-foot jumbo screens and Palm One hand held computers, fans were kept apprised of the amazing team battles unfolding as the FinishLynx operators kept feeding the continually changing data onto the oversized screens."