Patent ID: 7508739

Claim:
A footrace time measurement system for determining time consumed in running a course and portions thereof selected from a plurality of courses and selected portions of the courses, wherein the plurality of courses have a common starting point; the starting point comprises a common finish point for the courses; each of the courses is an out-and-back course and is provided with a turning point, each of said courses extending along a centerline extending from the starting point, the centerlines extending in different directions; a turning point signaling device is disposed adjacent each of the turning points; said turning point signaling device comprises means for producing a signal indicating to a runner at the starting point which one of the plurality of courses is to be run; measurement devices for producing measurement pulses are disposed between the starting point and each of the turning points, and between each of the turning points and the finish point, the measurement devices being adapted to produce a measurement signal when a runner passes the measurement device in a direction from the starting point to a turning point and in a direction from the turning point to the finish point; and a timing clock for indicating a start time at which the turning point signaling device initiates a signal, times at which the measurement devices are activated, and the finish time; wherein for each of the courses there is a measurement device disposed proximate the starting and finish point and another measurement device disposed proximate the turning point.