2021 Moments of the Year
To finish off 2021, we're going to countdown the MileSplit TN Top 10 Moments of the Year. Each day one 'moment' will be posted in the morning and one in the afternoon so check back as they get posted. As you'll see throughout the countdown, last year was filled with incredible drama, can't miss racing, and record breaking history. Enjoy.
#6 Rice, McCadney Tie at State
On Monday, we pointed out a trio of 800 meter races that were too close to call while watching in real time but thankfully due to the technology of Fully Automatic Timing and cameras with the ability to take pictures at a thousand frames per second the slightest difference in someone's shoulder or chest crossing the line can be detected. But what if there is no difference? This was the case for the girl's 400m Dash in the Small Division I State Championship on May 25th.
"Too close to call at the line!"
Typically, as each race concludes, within a minute or so the large video board at the end of the final stretch would start populating runner's times and places from the compiled heats however that did not occur this time within that time frame. A minute turned into two, then three, then an announcement for a rules official to come to the timing tent came over the PA system, then after some discussion at the tent the announcement was made: Ariya Rice of Austin-East and Kylie McCadney of Union City would both be awarded first after it was determined each finished in exactly 1:00.37!
After both came off the podium I remember seeing one of the winners write her address down for someone from the TSSAA. My assumption is that they had to make a second Gold Medal to later mail to whichever athlete didn't take the gold home that day. While McCadney graduated, Rice will be back this season and returns as the #19 ranked 400m runner across all classifications and divisions state wide.